A SECOND world war veteran from Okehampton was among those to brave the drop in the Meldon Abseil last Sunday.

George Heathman (pictured), 92, took on the 100ft abseil off Meldon Viaduct to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Mr?Heathman said he had done abseils before, 'down church towers and the like'. He said he always supported cancer charities: 'I had prostate cancer and had a big operation a few years ago.

'Marie Curie Nurses looked after me after the operation so I wanted to do something to pay them back.

'As an undertaker, I've also done funerals where I have seen people cut down in the prime of life by cancer.

'The abseil went all right on the day. I'm still collecting the money and I know I've raised over £600 for certain.'

Mr Heathman enlisted in the RAF in February 1939, aged 17, and trained in Canada before being stationed in Malta in December 1940, just as the Germans began to lay siege to the Mediterranean island, a vital naval base for the British and its supply route to Egypt.

He served there until September 1942, when he moved to the North African desert as an air gunner and bomb aimer on a Wellington bomber — including on operations during the famous Battle of El Alamein.

He lived in Bridestowe for many years before recently moving to Okehampton.

He left the RAF with the rank of Warrant Officer, and before retiring was a funeral director and stonemason.

He can now add the title of 'charity abseiler' to his long list of achievements.

Picture by Ian Snell