Brave Fran takes on daredevil challenge (From Gazette & Herald)

Brave Fran takes on daredevil challenge

A DAREDEVIL Ryedale landlady jumped out of a plane and fell 15,000ft to raise cash for an children's charity.

Frances Debenham, who is the licensee of the Feversham Arms Inn, Farndale, gathered £2,500 in sponsorship for Falkland war hero Simon Weston's charity, Weston Spirit, for underprivileged children, before she did the jump on February 18.

"Never in my life have I done anything like that before. Some friends were talking about raising money for the charity and I suggested doing something outrageous like jumping out of a plane," said 54-year-old Frances, who has run the pub for 18 years.

While her friends, Helmsley community officer PC Ray Thwaites and Sgt Paul Stephenson of the Malton-based road policing group, ran the New York Marathon in October to raise cash, Frances went through with her suggestion and completed a tandem sky-dive.

"It was horrendous at first. But after I'd done it, I felt fantastic. As soon as I landed, I thought I could go up and do it again. It was absolutely fantastic," she said.

"I think everybody is as chuffed as I am that I did it. Everyone said how proud they were of me."

Andy Fawbert, of Hall Farm, Farndale, paid for the three-mile jump. Frances actually attempted to do the dive seven times before she was successful. On each occasion, the weather was unsuitable and the attempt had to be abandoned.

Updated: 12:09 Wednesday, March 03, 2004