See the video now at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dkTYypTj6U

My tandem jump to support the
Guy's and St Thomas' Kidney Patients' Association (GSTTKPA)
took place on 1st August. The jump was from 12,000 feet -and it went well enough that I was presented with a certificate to confirm that I successfully completed it.

I got down to Headcorn Airfield at 9.35am and went up at 15.35pm - the delay was because of low visibility, rain, being at the back of the queue. That worked out advantageously, as earlier jumpers went out at between 7,000 and 9,000 feet.

14 people went up in a Cessna - 3 tandem teams, and 8 solo jumpers. The tandems left the plane after the solo jumpers - 'The Tigers', the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Parachute Display Team. Unlike them, I was not carrying a red rose, which members of the Princess of Wales's do annually on 1st August to commemorate the participation of the forerunners of the regiment in the Battle of Minden in 1759, nor was I clutching one between my teeth.

I screamed, as instructed, when I left the Cessna. The 30 seconds or so of free-fall - approx 6,500 feet, I believe - passed without the need to think. The sudden deceleration when the main chute opened was an occasion of some discomfort, but both the peace and the view were pleasant and we then drifted down in a controlled fashion to a textbook landing on our backsides. As I say in the video, I can now understand why people jump regularly, but am not certain that I will want to.

Why did I do this? On 1st August 2006 I donated a kidney to a friend and the operation and subsequent aftercare were at Guy’s. This was a way of again giving thanks - to all the staff who were so kind and professional and for the quality of the anaesthetic used - by raising money for the GSTTKPA.

All donations have been much appreciated by me and, importantly, the charity.

But there is still time to give to the GSTTKPA and so, if you wish to, please do so.

Thank you.