Saving Red Kite Children"™s Centre: Erroll"™s Sky Dive

Mission accomplished! Thame Rotary Club’s President Erroll Bateman completed his charity sky dive from 12,500ft on Tuesday 5 July. The jump which involved a 45 second free fall, took place at the Old Sarum Airfield, organised by the Parachute Regiment’s Free Fall Team, the famous Red Devils.

Erroll commented: “Rotary Club of Thame’s major charity this year is Red Kite Children’s Centre, which, as many know, is threatened with closure, making life even more difficult for their 1,500 clients all of whom come from Thame and surrounding district.”

Red Kite provides parenting programmes, “stay and play” sessions, family health services, plus much needed help for young mothers and many other like services. Erroll described their work as absolutely essential to the wider community in and around Thame, as well as Chinnor and neighbouring villages.

Erroll added: “The last free fall jump I did was in 1969, so before exiting the aircraft with my instructor LCpl Lee Crudgington, nerves were at high level! However, previous training clicked in, massively helped by Corporal Lee, which made the whole experience very exciting.”