AN 89 year-old war veteran from Pembroke Dock took a leap of faith earlier this month to raise money for anniversary celebrations for his home town.

On Saturday, July 20, Gerry Price completed a tandem parachute jump at Swansea Airport to raise money for Pembroke Dock’s 2014 bicentenary celebrations.

Gerry joined the Royal Navy when he was just 15 and served on board Russian and North Atlantic convoys during the Second World War.

He recently received his Arctic Medal at Buckingham Palace.

Gerry’s family, who include six children and 40 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, had some reservations about the 13,000ft parachute jump.

But equipped with a doctor’s certificate and a personal visit to the skydive company, there was no stopping him.

Gerry said: “The jump was scary at first, especially when we were plummeting through clouds at more than 180 miles per hour. Once the parachute opened it was quiet and serene and I enjoyed seeing all the beaches and houses come into view.

“It was a lovely smooth landing on a grass verge and all my family were there waiting for me.”

The only disappointing part of the day was the pictures of him leaping from the plane did not come out due to condensation in the lens.

Gerry is now the oldest person ever to complete a parachute jump from Swansea Airport.

He said: “The oldest person who had done it up until now was an 81 year old woman. I remember seeing her on the TV and her false teeth dropped out – they were travelling down at the same speed as her and she was trying to catch them.”

When asked if he would do another jump, Gerry said: “Only from a skateboard!”

At present more than £1000 has been raised, with lots more to come.