Pete and Sallyanne raise almost £2,000 with parachute jump

“Living life to the full involves risk. But it’s good to look back and remember some amazing sights and adventures. ‘If ony’  doesn’t match that philosophy. ‘What next’ seems to be a better fit.”

“Risk’s unavoidable, whatever the task.  Reducing it involves shared trust and confidence in oneself, others and systems. The extremes of irresponsibility and timidity can be equally dangerous.”

Both can recall earlier risky situations. Sallyanne said: “I had a very serious skiing accident when in my 20s. It involved a complex and long search and rescue operation, surgery, incapacity and a very lengthy recuperation. They said I’d probably never walk or work again. I simply wouldn’t accept that. I had to learn the most basic things all over again. I’m lucky to be alive and fully recovered. It’s down to other people’s care, determination and support. The result was that I did work and ski again.”

Pete added: ““In the northern North Sea in the 1990s I was on a large oil production platform project. Our accommodation was on two floating barges, called flotels, that were normally connected to the main platform. Each flotel accommodated up to 500 people.

“At the start of one particular two-week shift the weather was atrocious. My helicopter flight from Aberdeen was delayed until darkness. The very bumpy flight out revealed that both flotels had been winched well away from the oil platform for safety’s sake. Attempts to land on a wildly-pitching helideck were aborted several times. When we finally landed, we had to link arms and help each other to get out, huddle together and get to safety. The storm strength was approaching Force 10 and easily capable of sweeping an individual into the sea. Further flights were cancelled.  Next day, seeing rolling waves more than fifteen metres tall was an unforgettable demonstration of nature’s power.”