Daring Richard's charity skydive for 80th birthday

Looking forward to taking the plunge ... Richard Austin.

Boston borough councillor Richard Austin was bought the parachute experience by wife Alison as a present for his birthday on June 14.

He will make the tandem parachute jump in September and, in the run up to the event, hopes to raise £1,600 for the Boston Woods Trust – the aim being to raise £20 for every year of his life.

Mr Austin told the Standard: “It was something I have always wanted to do and I thought I’d get on with it before I missed the chance.”

Mr Austin has a history of taking part in adventurous activities including abseiling and flying. When asked if he nervous he said: “No – I’m quite looking forward to it.”

Asked if wife Alsion, also a borough councillor, would be joining him he said: “She wouldn’t do it with me, that’s for sure – she did ensure we had our 50th wedding anniversary before I jumped, though!”

Mr Austin, who lives at Wyberton and is also a member of the parish council, has been an active member of Boston Woods Trust “from the word go” in 1999.

The trust, a charity run entirely by volunteers, aims to provide the people of Boston with places to go walking, bird watching and cycling.

It looks after a number of woods including the Sir Joseph Banks Country Park and Woods at Wyberton, and the Fenside Woods on Fenside Road in Boston.

It includes 110 acres of woods containing 90,000 trees which have been planted and wild flower meadows with more than three-and-a-half miles of all-weather paths.

Mr Austin said: “It’s a project that we need to maintain and improve so it needs a constant supply of funding and it’s only the public that can supply that money.

To sponsor Richard call 01205 368351, email [email protected] or make a payment from your bank account to the Boston Woods Trust using the reference Sky Dive, account number 00216407, sort code 30-91-04 or by cheque made payable to Boston Woods Trust and sent to Richard Austin, Sky Dive, Cherry Tree Cottage, Low Road, Wyberton, Boston, PE21 7AP. Please write Sky Dive on the back of your cheque.

There is also a link to the Just giving page on the Boston Woods Trust website at www.bostonwoods.co.uk.