Former Royal Navy Commander Charles Wylie abseils down Spinnaker Tower | UK | News
For most non-teenagers, birthdays may involve a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake; but a former Royal Navy Commander has overcome a series of challenges that would make most people half his age think twice. Charles Wylie celebrated his 90th birthday with a tandem skydive, rowed with a record team of elite rowers for the 91st time, and completed a daring venture for his 92nd birthday by descending 328ft from Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower.
The Korean War veteran, who joined the Navy in 1948, is taking on challenges to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. This is a charity close to his heart, as his wife, Jean, has lived with the condition for 11 years. He said: “I wasn’t even the slightest bit nervous and made zero preparations for the rappel – just trust the professionals and enjoy the ride!”
Charles was applauded by 100 well-wishers, including family, friends and former Marine colleagues; one of them relayed his boss’s call when Charles touched down, the usual signal for a captain to embark. He raised more than £30,000 of his £50,000 target, adding to the total of £21,000 and £6,000 for the charity in his previous challenges.
Charles and Jean, 91, have been married for 67 years and met when Charles stormed in at a dance in Edinburgh in 1954. “She looked like Grace Kelly in the crowd and I knew immediately that she was the one for me; her smile made my legs go weak,” he said.
“Not only is she the most beautiful person I have ever met, but she raised our four children on her own and worked as a speech therapist while I was at sea for months. Any of these challenges I have undertaken are a drop in the ocean compared to what she has accomplished.” It was in 2013 that he first noticed that Jean’s memory was impaired and that he was out of character.
At first, their doctor diagnosed memory loss, but the couple knew it was much more serious. Charles said: “It took seven years for him to finally get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia and get the support we needed. By then his condition had greatly deteriorated and I knew I had lost him.”
Jean, who now lives in a specialist care home, only recognizes her doting husband when he blows his “special whistle”. “A few weeks after we met, we were walking in the woods and heard a blackbird singing, so I copied it by whistling, something I’ve been doing ever since. Now when I sit next to her and do that, the biggest smile appears on her face and I know she’s still there.”
When Jean moved into the care home full-time in 2021, Charles found himself home alone. So he made his plan for his birthday challenges.
“My naval career shaped my attitude about what I could and couldn’t do; when I was 17 I fought in many major battles and was almost killed when our boat was bombed. But all these hardships are nothing compared to what Jean is going through now.”
He completed his parachute jump with the Red Devils team in Wiltshire in July 2023 and last summer rowed across Portsmouth Harbor on HMS Oardacious.
He says he is “open to any suggestions” on the challenges of the coming years but insists it must be “appropriately demanding”.
“As long as my mind and body are still healthy, why shouldn’t I continue?” he said.
“I will definitely continue to take full advantage of the solar panels on my home until I am 104!
“I can’t save Jean now, but I can do my best to save others from this terrible disease. Alzheimer’s Research UK has one goal – to find a cure. It’s estimated that 50% of us will be affected by dementia in the next few years – we can’t do anything.”
Alzheimer’s Research UK is encouraging people to sign the Invisible Dementia petition to improve diagnosis.
● To sponsor Charles, visit www.justgiving.com/page/charles-wylie-1678789500363
