The sky was the limit for fearless Ledbury-based funeral arranger, Justin Hydes as he braved a 13,000-feet skydive to support St Michael’s Hospice, near Hereford.

And it has given the Ledbury professional a growing taste for adventure and further fund-raising challenges.

Mr Hydes, who works for Dawe Brothers Funeral Directors in Bye Street, joined the fundraising Flying Angels skydiving group to jump at Army Parachute Association Netheravon, in Wiltshire.

But he was a long way out of his comfort zone, because Justin had previously only attempted a less hair-raising parasailing experience on holiday, and he’d also taken his wife on a hot air balloon ride for her birthday, earlier this year.

But a chance remark to his brother in law set the wheels for adventure in motion.

Mr Hydes commented how he’d like to attempt a parachute jump next.

Within minutes, his brother-in-law, whose mother had been supported by St Michael’s Hospice, had put him in touch with Mike Pullin from the Hospice Angels and Mr Hydes was quickly signed up for the tandem jump.

Mr Hydes had no doubt from the outset that he was leaping into the blue for a very worthwhile cause.

Mr Hydes said: “The nurses and volunteers at the hospice are wonderful, they create a bond and support the patients and their families until the end. It’s amazing to be able to do that for someone.

“My fundraising will help them to continue their work and that kept me focused when it came to jumping out of the plane.”

Strapped to an experienced instructor, Mr Hydes said he managed to remained calm as they prepared to jump.

He said: “I was taking in the beautiful view, the sun was shining and I could see as far as the Isle of Wight.

“It was phenomenal and something I’ll never see again in that way.

“The instructor took me through a cloud – that was like a sauna, I didn’t realise how warm a cloud is!”

As well as setting up a fundraising page, Justin held a tombola and raised funds for the Hospice from donated furniture, bringing his total raised to an impressive £1,500.

But that does not appear to be the end for Mr Hydes’ aerial adventures.

Hospice fundraising volunteer Mike Pullin, 83, who established the Flying Angels and has completed nine jumps, said he and Justin were now planning further fundraising activities together.

Dawe Brothers partners contributed the cost of Mr Hydes’ parachute jump so all the money he raised could be donated to the Hospice, which is based at Bartestree, off the Hereford Road.