Retired major, 94, takes to Shropshire skies on daring wing walk to raise funds for his care home

A former army major aged 94 with a long history of derring-do took to the skies above Shropshire to raise some funds to spruce up the care home in which he now lives.

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Donald Harrison, from Preston, came to Sleap Airfield near Wem on Monday (September 28) for his adventurous escapade.

He said he decided to take on the sponsored wing walk on behalf of the Bushell House Charitable Trust that runs Bushell House Residential Care Home.

He said all funds raised will be used for the benefit of the trust and its residents, to maintain the Georgian building so it can continue to provide a home to Mr Harrison and the other residents.

When Mr Harrison returned to earth, his son, Matthew Harrison, said he took the wing walk in his usual off-hand manner.

He said: “It was great, although he was his typical reticent self and just said it ‘was fine’, but I could tell he loved it.

“He told the pilot that he used to parachute back in the day when there wasn’t a reserve chute - so it either worked or it didn’t so he took the wing walk in his stride.”

He added that it is not the first time Mr Harrison has defied his age as he went on the UK’s longest zipline in Wales for his 90th birthday.

“The managers from his care home came to cheer him on and said there would be a whisky in the offing when he got back, so I’m sure they are very proud of him.” added Mr Harrison.

He said that his father has raised nearly £1,000 from his wing walk and the sponsorship page is still open at https://www.gofundme.com/f/94-year-old-wing-walks-for-charity.