Pensioner's plunge raises a massive £52,000

Octogenarian Nigel (83), father of Foreign Secretary William Hague, landed the huge windfall for children’s charity the NSPCC when he landed safely after his tandem jump from 10,000ft on Saturday.

The Greasbrough pensioner’s leap of faith means that he has now raised more than £100,000 for the cause in just two years.

In 2009 he successfully climbed the 3,209ft Scafell Pike in the Lake District in seven-and-a-half hours, raising more than £51,000.

Following his skydive at The Skydiving Centre in Grindale, near Bridlington, Nigel said: “I really enjoyed the challenge of the sky dive. It was thrilling.

“I was fortunate that the weather held out and was glad to reach terra firma in one piece.

“I have supported the NSPCC for a number of years and I am thrilled to have raised over £50,000 for them on this occasion.”

Claire Reading, NSPCC community fund-raising manager for the East Riding, said: “Nigel has raised over £52,000 for the NSPCC by undertaking this sky dive.

“This is a fantastic achievement and I can’t thank him enough on behalf of the NSPCC.

“He has now raised well over £100,000 for us in the past couple of years by undertaking real physical challenges, which is truly remarkable.

“The money raised will make a significant difference to the lives of the children we support across Yorkshire and the Humber, and the wider UK.”