A daring charity stunt has helped the Wareham town mayor raise £1,700 for Purbeck Air Cadets – after she jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet.
Marian Cotton completed a year as the town’s mayor by helping her chosen charity towards their aim of having a portable flight simulator to help their training and to raise awareness of the RAF Air Cadets when they attend events.
Mayor Marian Cotton with proof of her parachute jump from 10,000 feet
A new flight simulator
The tandem parachute drop at Old Sarum airfield on Sunday 27th April 2025, took place in perfect weather conditions and was completed successfully, with the mayor joking that she landed in one piece!
Money raised will now go towards a project for the RAF Air Cadets 2185 Isle of Purbeck Squadron, to design and build a new flight simulator which will be a much-needed extra system for the youth group.
Although the air cadet squadron is parented by the Royal Air Force, its main objective is to promote an interest in aviation, through leadership training, adventure training, academic studies, and visits to RAF stations.
And as the squadron offers flights in both powered aircraft and gliders, it uses flight simulators to prepare its cadets for the experience and to teach the basics of aircraft handling.
Having taken the plunge, the only way is down for Marian
“Thrilled we have raised so much”
Wareham town mayor Marian Cotton said:
“When I became mayor, I wanted to support a charity that is often overlooked and which helps teenagers, taking many of them forward on a career path.
“Being in the air cadets gives them guidance, team building, confidence, discipline, so many life skills, they gain so much from being a part of it.
“They wanted a portable flight simulator, which will help to enhance their skills and which can be taken to events they participate in to raise their profile.
“It will cost between £3,500 and £4,000, and so far my skydive has netted me £1,700 towards it – I’m thrilled we have managed to raise so much, and my Just Giving page is still running.”
The Cessna light aircraft at Old Sarum airfield which was used for the parachute jump
Preparing for the big moment at Old Sarum airfield
“The experience was wonderful”
Marian added:
“We went up in a Cessna plane, which took six of us, and jumped from 10,000 feet – although I was not really aware of the height. You are not looking down and the next thing you know you are out of the plane, so there’s no time to get frightened.
“Before the jump, you are sitting on the edge, almost hanging out of the plane and then the chap you are with tips you to the left – and then you are falling!
“You travel at 125 miles an hour in freefall for 30 seconds before the parachute opens, which made my shoulders ache with the buffeting of the wind! And when the canopy came up – well, I can’t do fairground rides and my stomach was a bit queasy!
“But you look down onto Stonehenge and Salisbury, so the experience was absolutely wonderful, although the landing was a bit unexpected. I thought we would land standing up but instead I made a very smooth landing on my bottom.”
Air Cadets were at the airfield to support the mayor
Air cadets cheered on the mayor
Members of the 2185 Isle of Purbeck Squadron Air Cadets, together with flight lieutenant Ryan Whincop, were at the airfield to cheer on the mayor, who has now put a copy of her certificate in the town hall window to prove to all her supporters that she completed the jump.
She will now present a cheque to the flight lieutenant at Wareham Town Council’s mayor making ceremony on Thursday 15th May 2025, before going to the next full cadet meeting and having a photograph taken with all of the cadets.
By then, Marian hopes to have been elected to serve a second year as Mayor of Wareham, having already had her name proposed – though she is not taking anything for granted.
Back on solid ground in Wareham, Marian reflects on her time as mayor
“It is a real honour to be mayor”
Marian Cotton said:
“I have been proud to represent Wareham at civic events throughout the year – it is a real honour to be mayor, I’ve loved the experience and would be very happy to do a second year.
“I was born in Wareham, which is nice, it gives you a special connection to the town and has helped when I’ve shown other civic leaders around the town.
“You are privileged to be mayor, and you get to see things you normally wouldn’t as a member of the public – some highlights for me were going behind the scenes at Portland HeliOps search and rescue centre, and going into a stone quarry.
“I also made a privately funded trip to Wareham in Massachusetts, to help reset a town twinning from years ago – it was a great success, and they are coming over here later in May to help rebuild a link with our friends in the United States.”
Money raised by the jump will go towards a new, portable flight simulator for the local squadron
“Making friends and gaining skills for life”
A spokesperson for the RAF Air Cadets said:
“We offer young people exciting opportunities for personal and professional development.
“We’re an inclusive organisation that cares about helping young people reach their potential, and every year nearly 43,000 air cadets and 10,000 volunteer staff take part in exciting events at over 1,000 squadrons across the UK.
“Being a cadet means trying new things in a safe environment, making friends along the way and gaining skills for life. Through discipline, unique experiences and knowledge gained, our cadets develop into aviators and pick up lifelong friends along the way.
“We’re not a recruiting organisation for the main RAF, so all the skills youngsters learn and experiences they gain will benefit whatever career path they choose.”
Further information
- A JustGiving page is still raising money for Marian’s parachute jump
- The latest news from Wareham Town Council is on its website
