June Fenn has abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth at the age of 91 for Dementia-Friendly Alton and Brambleton Hall Church in Farnham.

So far June, of Alton, has raised more than £1,600 for her good causes. Next year she fancies driving round Thruxton racetrack or doing a skydive!

This was June’s first abseil, but she said she felt confident: “I had to be because I didn't know anything about it.

“I knew it was very high, because as we approached it I thought ‘uh-oh, it's high’. But I sort of just did as I was told for a change!”

Stepping out from the safety of the tower on to the wall did not faze her either.

June said: “It was better than I thought because I didn't go out backwards. I went out frontwards and had to turn round, step over something on to a ledge which was about three or four inches wide, get the other leg over as well, and step back into it. Then I was shown the ropes - literally.”

The wind can blow quite strongly at the top of the tower, but June found her footwear more of an issue.

She said: “It was a bit windy, but not very windy. I think the wind cutting across probably made a bit of difference. But I was told to wear soft soles, so I wore plimsolls, and my feet kept slipping off the wall.

“I'd like to find out why. I don't know if it was my fault or if it was to do with my weight, whether I wasn't heavy enough to hold myself down. I just don't know.

“But anyway, I eventually got down and that was alright. When I got to the bottom somebody was saying ‘I've got you, I've got you’ and I thought well, I've got further to go yet, I'm not down yet - and of course I was actually down there!”

June said she may return to Gunwharf Quays as a spectator to take in the spectacular views of Portsmouth because virtually all she saw on the way down was white concrete.

She added: “When I first got out there and the girl showed me the things, I got a quick view of everything, but then every time I tried to look round, I found that actually my neck doesn't go very far.

“I don't think that was an excuse, but all I could see was the wall, so I didn't really catch anything I'm afraid.”

Her adventurous nature has already got June thinking about a challenge for 2026.

She said: “I'd quite like to do abseiling again, but then I'd rather do something different for next year, and people are suggesting all sorts of things.

“I said ‘well, I might not be here’ but they said you will, so I thought I'd quite like to drive round Thruxton.

“Some people are saying about bungee jumping. I said ‘no, certainly not’ but I might think about skydiving because several people have suggested that - so who knows?”