Keswick’s go-getting mayor is coming back down to earth after a pair of tandem paraglides off Latrigg – his first ever.
Alan Dunn, 68, was left floating on air, declaring the experience “fantastic – I loved it”.
Channelling managerial legend Sir Alex Ferguson, the Keswick town councillor admitted to a few moments of “squeaky bum time” right before take-off.
His attention had been drawn to a distant barbed wire fence and as they legged it to take off, it got ever more closer.
“I was running as fast as I could and before I knew it my legs were going round and round in the air,” laughed Alan.
He was ably assisted on the day by Josh Sanderson, of the Flight Path, Braithwaite. Alan and lady mayoress Heather used to babysit him many years ago, but on Saturday it was Josh’s turn to ensure no nappy needed changing!
Alan, who raised £200 for Keswick Parks, said: “Josh was excellent and told me exactly what to do. You initially get pulled back when the wind catches you and then it settles down.
“It was absolutely stunning to see Keswick from that height. The first go was over very quickly. We took off at 11am with the plan to glide around for an hour but there were no thermals so we were in the park by 20 past.”
The pumped-up pair decided to have another go with Josh’s mum Kate taking them back up on to Latrigg, allowing them to have a circulate overhead.
Landing again, Alan was met by a large welcoming party of family and close friends – including the forbidding form of retired undertaker Mike Green!
The event was timed to coincide with the arrival in Fitz Park of marathon man Gary McKee, of Cleator Moor, who is running a marathon every day to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gary was on his 106th of the year and Alan duly presented Gary with two cheques – one from his mayoral fund, and another on behalf of Louise, wife of the late Lee Watson.
