THREE brave Ledbury women have tackled skydives in memory of a popular local businessman and family man and for the Air Ambulance, which came to his aid.

Leanne Vine, the daughter of Lee Vine, who died aged 50 following a bonfire accident at his Falcon Lane Home last December, did a tandem skydive from 11,000ft in memory of her dad.

Mr Vine, who was the co-owner of Lee Motorcycles on the Homend Trading Estate, was flown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by air ambulance; but he died in intensive care two weeks later, in January.

For the skydive Miss Vine, aged 20, was accompanied by her best friend from Ledbury Primary and John Masefield High School days, Megan Branch, also aged 20.

The friends gave each other much needed support before they each tackled a tandem skydive, beneath clear blue summer skies.

Miss Vine said: “Megan went before me and it was most scary to see her drop. My dad would probably have thought I was an idiot. But it seemed the right thing to do and I’ve always wanted to do a skydive.

“Megan even wanted to go back again last week!”

Together, through the sponsorship of friends and kindness of local people, the friends have raised about £3,500 for the Air Ambulance.

Kay Curtiss, aged 30, of Barnett Avenue, tackled a tandem leap with the Red Devils in Nottingham on July 3 – raising £1,200 for the Air Ambulance in the process. She said the reason for the jump was because Mr Vine was a family friend and because, several years ago, her brother Steve Loveridge, now aged 35, was saved by the Air Ambulance following a car accident.

The Air Ambulance carried out a mercy dash to Gloucester Hospital, carrying blood, when the hospital ran out of Mr Loveridge’s blood type.

He spent nine months in hospital before making a full recovery. Mrs Curtiss, who works behind of the bar at the Prince of Wales pub in Church Lane, added: “My husband is a biker, and we are good friends with the Vine family.”

She jumped in tandem from a height of 13,000ft, after 1.5 hours of training.

She said: “The Red Devils were amazing, and I would just like to thank everyone who supported and sponsored me.”