Fundraising daredevil, 92 doing it all for beloved wife Jean

FOR most nonagenarians, birthdays may involve a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake but a former Royal Navy Commander has conquered a series of challenges that would make most people half his age think twice.

- Matthew Barbour

Charles Wylie marked his 90th with a tandem skydive, his 91st rowing with a record-breaking team of elite oarsmen and has just completed a daredevil venture for his 92nd birthday — abseiling 328ft down Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower.

The veteran, who joined the Navy in 1948 and fought in the Korean War, is taking on the challenges to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

It is a charity close to his heart as his wife Jean has been living with the condition for 11 years.

He said: “I wasn’t the slightest bit nervous and did zero prep for the abseil — you just put your trust in the professionals and enjoy the ride!”

Charles was cheered on by 100 well-wishers, including family, friends and old naval colleagues — one of whom piped his bosun’s call as Charles touched the ground, the usual signal for when a captain boards a ship.

He has raised more than £30,000 of his £50,000 target, adding to his previous challenges’ totals of £21,000 and £6,000 for the charity.