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Feature ArticlesTandem Sky Dive by Mr Stephen Went, the Town Reeve of Bungay The morning of Saturday August 13th dawned sunny and bright and after ringing the airfield discovered everything was ok for the jump! We arrived at Old Buckenham about 12.30pm and completed our registration and paid our final balance. I then decided to have a DVD taken of my descent especially as the one they showed us was set to James Bond music!!! Due to various problems our jump was delayed until 3pm, Emily who I had press ganged into doing with me would go before me. We had a briefing, which must have lasted all of 5 minutes and were kitted up in a rather fetching suit and harness. I was then introduced to my ‘jump buddy’ Tim who I was relieved to learn had completed about 5,000 jumps previously.
The engines were cut back and the door opened I just double checked I was still strapped to Tim (luckily I was) and we shuffled to the door as I was in the front I found myself sitting on the edge of this plane with nothing but white clouds beneath me. This was the precise moment I forget everything we were told to do – Tim got me into the right position and said smile at the camera – yeh right I thought. Then suddenly I was falling not sure which way up – my first thought was ‘what the hell am I doing’ and what struck me was how cold it was. Then all of a sudden Craig was right in front of me getting me to wave at the camera – not sure if I did or not will see when the DVD arrives! Then after what seemed like only 2 seconds I felt a huge yank as the chute opened and Tim saying in my ear – it’s ok the chute has opened – phew that was a relief. I could now see the Norfolk countryside stretched out before me, but within a few seconds I was hit by a huge wave of a nausea. Tim said this was quite normal but please try not and be sick as it would go back over him!!!! .
It took about 4 minutes to land with the chute and although I was enjoying the view I was more concerned about keeping the contents of my stomach where they were. Then thankfully he told me to prepare for landing which entailed bringing my knees up to my chest but we passed over the yellow cross, over the people watching, over the car park and into the back field – I was down and in one piece, and thankfully the contents of my stomach where they should be – but only just!! It was truly an amazing experience you are falling at 200 mph and every sense is challenged, my only regret was that I didn’t fully appreciate the sights on the way, thinking about it afterwards the words of a certain hymn came to mind – ‘Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hand has done’ Would I do it again – never, no, maybe well go on then but the thing holding me back would be the nausea. I am pleased to report that with matched funding from my employer I have raised just over £1,000 that will be split between the NSPCC and Kids Company. Thank you to everyone for all their support! Stephen Went.
www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk |
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The time quickly arrived for the jump – the weather by this time had become windy, overcast with the occasional shower. Still they said it was fine for jumping and we board the plane – a Cherokee I think it was! 
