AN 80-year-old man is joining staff at a retirement home in Chippenham as they take part in a fundraising skydive.

Brian Boyce, from Kington Langley, whose wife Jacqueline, 79, lives at The Fairways Retirement Village, is joining five staff members who are facing their fears and jumping out of a plane to raise money for the amenities fund, which allows residents to take part in a range of activities, from theatre and cinema trips, to outings to Westonbirt and Whitehall, as well as paying for singers and other activities including lambing to come into the home.

They hope to raise as much money as possible before their 10,000-foot jump at Wanborough airfield, near Swindon on August 4.

“My wife has been here just under two years,” Mr Boyce explained. “In 2014 Jacqueline developed dementia. It became too much for me to deal with in our home, therefore we live apart.

“The staff here have been marvellous and made life that much easier for both my wife and me, and I thought I could help raise money.

“When one realises how important the job the staff do here is, having been at the end of it for the last two years, you can’t praise them enough.”

“I visit her on most days where all her devoted staff are absolutely wonderful and make this difficult time for both of us bearable.”

Community co-ordinator Mary Kidd is helping to organise the skydive, although she is not taking part herself.

She said: “I am amazed at how much all of them have raised already. I spoke to some of the carers and thought about what we could do to raise money. One of them had a friend who had done the jump before so I said, who wants to do it, let’s just do it.

“So many people came forward, I can’t believe the support I’ve had from everyone.”

Senior carer Hannah Mason is one of the five staff members taking part. She said: “I’ve worked here for a long time and I wanted to give something back to our residents, and what better way to do it raising money for our activities, to enable them to do a bit more.

“I’m excited but equally as nervous.”

Deputy manager Grace Bowden said: “I am very proud of the staff, they are facing their fears jumping out of a plane, and we are so pleased Brian wanted to be a part of it.

“The fund is simply for the residents to use how they want to. “We do more local trips because of the age of the residents and because we want to continue being part of the community.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated.”

Donations can be made by cheque payable to MHA The Fairways or contact them on 01249 461239 for bank details for online payments.