Daredevil grandma wing-walks in latest challenge

2 hours ago

Grace Wood and Andrew BartonYorkshire

News image — Valerie Appleton, 82, took to the sky above East Leeds Airfield

BBC A red biplane taking off from a runway with a grey haired woman seated on a platform above the upper wing. — Valerie Appleton, 82, took to the sky above East Leeds Airfield

A daredevil grandma has performed an aerobatic wing-walk, including loops and barrel rolls, to raise money for charity.

Valerie Appleton, 82, took to the sky at East Leeds Airfield to raise funds to help preserve the home of Ilkley Musical Theatre Society, of which she is a member.

It was not the first time Valerie has completed a challenge, having previously abseiled down Elland Road's East Stand on her 80th birthday and ziplined down the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor.

Speaking after her aerial acrobatics on Saturday, which involved a complete 360-degree vertical loop, she said: "That force when you're going over the top and the whole world turns upside down, it's great."

An elderly woman wearing a blue shirt standing beside a fence near an airfield runway. — Valerie says anyone with an urge to wing-walk should "just do it"

Valerie said her interest in wing-walking began as a child, watching the 1933 film Flying Down to Rio with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

"There were these biplanes with showgirls on the top and that was in my head," she said.

"I went to ballet school and I was thinking, 'that would be wonderful to dance on a wing'.

"Well, believe you me, you can't - because you can't move your legs because you're being blown backwards."

A grey haired woman wearing a parachute harness and tutu stands on the top wing of a red biplane with arms outstretched on an airfield. — Valerie's tutu-wearing aerial antics raised money for repairs and maintenance to the Ilkley Musical Theatre Society

Valerie's first challenge, almost 30 years ago, was a hot air balloon ride but she said it had left her wanting more.

"It wasn't really a challenge, you just stand in a basket and go up," she said. "But the problem was when we got there, I was hanging over the basket because I just wanted to jump."

She previously took part in a tandem skydive, while living with her daughter in Texas, and a wing walk to raise money for LS29, an Ilkley charity that provides holidays for children with additional needs.

"Before I did the first one, we went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and I went on all the rollercoasters just to check my pacemaker didn't pack in," she said.

"It's still ticking, it's fine."

Valerie Appleton Three photographs of a woman in a tutu standing on an orange biplane. — Valerie previously completed a wing-walk to raise money for children with additional needs

Valerie worked in local government before running pubs and restaurants for 25 years. She credits her upbringing for her sense of adventure.

She said: "I had a strong mum and dad - 'no such word as can't', 'go and do it'. That's the only way to live.

"You can't pull yourself back because you're frightened, you've just got to go and do it."

All money raised from the challenge will go towards repairs and maintenance to the Operatic House on Leeds Road in Ilkley, built in 1903, at which the musical theatre society performs.

Speaking after her feet returned to the ground on Saturday, Valerie said she was already looking forward to planning her next adventure and urged anyone considering a bit of wing-walking to "just do it, it's absolutely great".

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