Father and son parachutists poised to take to skies to raise fund for hospice

John Bramwell and his 16-year-old son Alex, from York, are members of the 6th Airborne Division group of re-enactors who recreate parachute landings carried out during the war.

They are preparing for the event by becoming acclimatised to the life of Second World War parachutists by experiencing the inside of the Yorkshire Air Museum’s Dakota aircraft, one of the types of plane used to drop troops into the war zones and yesterday they were at the museum at Elvington, near York, as part of their preparations.

Mr Bramwell and his son encouraged as many people as possible to sponsor their training and raise money for St Leonard’s Hospice and for the Royal British Legion.

They will use authentic round-canopy parachutes when they train in Holland later this year, and will then be ready to take part in parachute jump recreations at Arnhem and in Normandy.

Sarah Atkinson, community fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, said: “It’s great that John and Alex want to help the Hospice and the Royal British Legion as they train for their role as Second World War parachutists.”

Donations can be made at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/airbornebramwells.