Newark Town Councillor Laurence Goff completes a sponsored tandem skydive with Skydive Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, from 15,000ft helping him to surpass his fundraising target in aid of the Bomber Gateway Trust's On Freedom's Wings project

After a year of tireless fundraising, a man has conquered his fears by completing a sponsored skydive in support of a landmark memorial project.

Last Friday, (August 2), Laurence Goff took to the skies above Lincolnshire in a effort to reach his fundraising target of £15,000 in aid of the Bomber Gateway Trust’s On Freedom’s Wings project, which will see a full-scale replica of a Lancaster Bomber built near Norton Disney to honour the sacrifices of second world war servicemen.

He is a well known figure in Newark for his charitable efforts and has spent much of the last year shaking a bucket and collecting donations for good causes around the town.

With help from Hilbaldstow Skydive, he completed a tandem jump from 15,000 feet, reaching a terminal velocity of 120mph, with friends and family cheering him on from the ground.

He said: “I wanted to do something daring to honour the bravery of those servicemen during the war, which is what this project is all about.

“I was the last one to go, so I had to wait a long time to jump and you never know how you’re going to react.

“When we went out I just closed my eyes and held onto the straps for dear life.

“It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done and I’m not as young as I used to be, but I’m glad I did it.”

In total Laurence has now raised £16,545, smashing his original target of £15,000.

“It was touch and go for a while whether or not I was going to reach my fundraising target,” he said.

“I had some last minute donations to do the jump, including a very generous £1,000 from someone, which helped to tip me over the edge.

“I’ve broken all my expectation and I’m very happy to help out at a time when charities are struggling for all sorts of reasons.

“So I want to thank the good people of Newark who gave money and supported me, and I want to thank Newark Town Council for supporting me and allowing me to use the market.”

Laurence plans to leave the fundraising page up in case anyone wants to continue to donate, but will take a break from him fundraising efforts after a year of hard work. Donations can be made here: www.justgiving.com/page/laurence-goff-1688905419640

Trustees from the Bomber County Gateway Trust, including chairman Ken Sadler were there to support Laurence and cheer him on.

Ken said: “He’s raised over £16,500 not just from the skydive, but by spending weeks and weeks over the course of the year shaking a tin in the Market Square and even dressed up as Father Christmas to help raise money.

“It’s amazing that he’s put so much effort in and we’re very grateful to him.”

Laurence was presented with a special limited edition print by the Trust earlier this year in recognition of his monumental individual fundraising efforts.

Ken estimates that now only around £40,000 is needed to buy the remaining steel to finish the sculpture, which they are hoping to complete in time for next Spring when the Lancaster structure can finally be lifted into place on site.