Skydive pair boost Cromer carnival funds

Cromer carnival has been given a cash boost, after two local women plunged through the sky - and a hailstorm - in a sponsored parachute jump.

Mayor Hilary Thompson and former chamber of trade president Sue Brown leapt from 13,000ft strapped to members of the Army's Tigers freefall team.

The pair had lunched with the parachutists while wearing their chains of office at recent Cromer carnivals and were given an invitation to do a jump - which they agreed to do for carnival funds.

Their leap, at speeds of up to 120mph, took about five minutes from plane to ground at Ellough airfield near Beccles, and was an exhilarating experience enjoyed by both women.

Mrs Thompson said: 'As we were in door of the plane it was like sitting on a bed of cotton wool. Then we were out and were encouraged to scream to help you breathe.

'The hail stung our faces, then we got below the cloud to 4,500ft and the chute opened and was just drifted down - with a great view of the coast and Lowestoft,' added the mayor whose previous dare-devil activities include doing a bobsleigh run.

Her enjoyment was only marred by not being able to help steer the parachute because of injuries suffered in a fall a few days earlier while cycling 500 miles to Cromer from its German twin town when her bike hit a kerb on wet roads.

Mrs Brown said the jump was 'absolutely amazing' and the first 'bananas' thing she had done since skiing 30 years ago which saw her 'return home on a stretcher.'

And after the hailstone battering she added: 'we had a good facial - we were sandblasted or rather ice-blasted!'

People can still support their effort by making sponsor donations at either the Cottage public house on Louden Road run by Mrs Thompson or the Sticky Earth Caf� owned by Mrs Brown on Church Street.