This 100 metre (328 ft) abseil down the iconic Spinnaker Tower is next on my personal bucket list, having completed a sky dive when I was 80 and I am delighted to be doing this for such an important cause. My son is a serving Royal Marine and it is important that the history, distinction and story of this prestigious military organisation is told to all generations. It has been some time since the old Royal Marines Museum closed at Eastney and I can't wait to visit the fantastic experience in Portsmouth Dockyard which will certainly compliment the Royal Naval history already there.

The Royal Marines Experience will not just be a collection of artefacts – it will be a place where the stories and lives of people are told. The amazing objects, exhibitions, galleries and hands-on experiences will inspire by showcasing remarkable personal stories, immense teamwork and qualities of resilience that can help us all navigate today’s complex and often demanding world.

The museum will be at the heart of sharing the on-going story of the Royal Marines. It will be a new national centre to inspire learning, enjoyment and engagement, with the Corps, its operations, its ethos, its people and their unique history and achievements.

The new museum will open in summer 2026, and this intrepid group of fundraisers are channelling the Royal Marines ethos of courage, determination, unselfishness, and cheerfulness in the face of adversity to help raise funds for this important piece of history, which will pay tribute to generations of Royal Marines.