‘She’s fearless – what will she do next year?!’
by Jordan Milne, specialist producer
There was an intake of breath from the crowd watching as a tiny white dot appeared out of the side of the plane.
For a while only the blue of her parachute was the focus for the group gathered below.
She descended to cheers of “there she is”, “oh my God, look at her” and “she’s done it” from a group of around 50 family, friends and neighbours from Benhall, the village where Manette Baillie has lived for the last 50 years.
Holding “we’re proud of you” banners and a “you did it!” balloon arch, the crowd cheered as the 102-year-old was back on her feet within minutes of landing.
“She’s a complete rock, fearless, she does not dwell on complaining or tragedies,” said close friend Humphrey Hawksley.
Everyone, even the team jumping with her were full of admiration.
“I got quite tearful up there, it’s amazing what she’s doing,” said veteran parachute jumper cameraman Nick Herridge.
There was a worry that the jump might be cancelled due to the wind, instead it was moved forward – nerve-inducing for some but Manette was unperturbed.
Before the jump, while pulling on her jumpsuit and practising her landing the former Wren was relaxed and stoic, saying: “There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’ve just got to keep going. You’ve just got to do it”.
Only after her feet were back on the ground did she admit to being a little nervous: “When the door opened, my stomach did go.”
Manette is well known among friends for going the extra mile to celebrate her milestones.
“She’s an inspiration, what is she going to do for her 103rd birthday?!” said her great-niece Izzy Robinson.
With the excitement of the jump out of the way Manette and her family and friends retired to the Benhall Ex-Servicemen’s club – one of the charities Manette is raising money for – for tea, cake and big band tunes.