Teachers up for high jump
A TEACHING duo took to the skies to raise funds for a new adventure playground at their school.
Niki Jennings, head of Early Years at Lady Barn House School in Cheadle and deputy head Sam Gibbins took part in a sky dive
Self-confessed adrenalin junkie Niki and colleague Sam completed the sky dive in Lancashire to raise money, fittingly for equipment for the new adventure playground at the co-educational independent school on Schools Hill in Cheadle and now are looking for more jaunts to test their mettle.
Niki, who has been with Lady Barn since 2001, said: “It’s the second time I have sky dived, but I’ve done a bungee jump, swam with a great white shark, swam with dolphins and been down so many zip wires, so I said yes immediately.”
Deputy head Sam was a little more circumspect: “I was approached by the PTA as part of their fundraising drive and knew Niki would be the sort of person to spur me on, but to be honest I was surprised at how calm I was throughout the day, really enjoying every moment.”
Both loved the experience, with Sam, who chose to make her first dive from 11,000 feet instead of the maximum 15,000 feet, saying, “As soon as I jumped out of the plane, it was a decision I regretted. I had one minute of free fall and if I have had gone from 15,000 I would have had an extra 30 seconds.”
Brave Niki, who did the full 15,000 feet jump, added: “It was simply exhilarating and the sort of experience I live for. From 15,000 feet you could see Lake Windermere, Blackpool Tower but also extent of the fires on the Moors.”
Lady Barn House School headmaster Mark Turner added: “We like to challenge the children, build confidence by going beyond their comfort zone - what an amazing example by Miss Jennings and Mrs Gibbons.”