A VETERAN of the infamous Second World War battle of Arnhem is preparing to do two parachute jumps in the space of a week – at the age of 95.

On the second of those he will once more be dropping by the crossing made notorious in A Bridge Too Far, but happily this time he won’t be under fire.

John Jeffries, from Richmond, will be taking the first of his leaps on September 8 when he will jump with the Army’s famous Red Devils at Peterlee to raise money for the Northumbria Blood Bikes charity.

Then, on September 15, he will travel once again to Arnhem in the Netherlands to recreate the jump he made in 1944 during the ill-fated Operation Market Garden.

“It has been over 74 years since my last parachute drop but I am coming out of retirement for the Blood Bikers – and I can’t wait,” he said.

“I go to Arnhem each year to share my experiences with local schoolchildren and to take part in the commemorations so, as I will be out of retirement by then, it seemed logical to make the jump again.”

However, the jump doesn’t hold the same fears it did back in the war years and John added: “It will be nice being able to jump again at Arnhem – but this time without being shot at.”

John will be doing the first jump with the Red Devils, the Parachute Regiment’s parachute display team, in an event organised by Sky Dive Academy at the Peterlee Parachute Centre. He will be jumping with current and former Paratroopers.

Paul Moore, from the Sky Dive Academy, said: “John is an amazing man and we are gladly waiving his jump fee so he can raise as much money as possible for charity.”

John last year published a very successful book, called “A Spirit for Adventure”, which charted his colourful life, from being orphaned at the age of two to his experiences in the Second World War.

He served with the Royal Corps of Signals and volunteered for parachute training but while jumping into Arnhem and weighed down by his radio equipment, he was shot during his descent.

Lying on the ground, wounded and with fighting going on all around him, he became a prisoner of war. Over the months that followed, he endured several POW camps, made a daring escape attempt and eventually found freedom again when he was liberated by US forces.

He later went on to have a successful career as an art teacher, using skills he still uses to help people at the Able Centre, run by the Broadacres housing association in Colburn, where he works as a volunteer.

His daughter, Lynn Tomkinson, who is manager of the Able Centre, said: “After writing a book and jumping out of a plane at the age of 95, we never know what dad will do next – but it certainly won’t be something dull,”

Northumbria Blood Bikes is a registered charity established by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, out of hours.

  • Anyone who would like to sponsor John can do so by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ and searching for 'John Jeffries'.
  • People interested in doing a parachute jump for fun or charity can do so by contacting Sky Dive Academy on 0191-517-1234, emailing info@skydiveacademy.org.uk or by visiting www.skydiveacademy.org.uk