Skydiver Daniel

Daniel Harmer, of Pebsham Lane, has carried out almost 50 jumps since his first experience in summer last year.

Initially he was part of a college trip which was cancelled but he decided to go on his own anyway.

He went up to Wiltshire, where the Army Parachute Association is based at Netheravon, in June and jumped from 3,500ft.

He said it was “terrifying” but he was bitten by the bug and has been going back ever since, working an extra job just to pay for the trip and the jump itself.

Daniel said: “Before that I used to sit at home and do nothing. I had nothing going for me. College was just somewhere to be rather than somewhere to learn and get something out of. I wouldn’t say I was a real troublemaker back then but I was a bit of a nuisance - I used to sit around car parks playing loud music. But this has completely changed me. You meet some amazing people who do skydiving, some of them in their 90’s, some people who live in the streets, people who live in caravans - all of life is there.”

Daniel has decided he wants to be a platoon commander in the paratroopers and is working towards that goal; having qualified as a licensed skydiver he has also learned how to pack parachutes and has been helping co-ordinate beginners who want to learn.

“I have come a long way,” Daniel commented.

“I am surprised at myself. I was not really good at much before - in fact I was not good at anything. But I have found something I am good at now, and I have given up a lot for it. I just saw this opportunity and thought that’s for me.”

He received his award at the British Parachute Association awards at the Coventry Hilton Hotel and is thrilled by the honour.

He added: “I jump at 14,000ft now. If you look down you can’t see anything. You are above cloud level and it is a completely different world up there. I fall at about 120mph for about a minute - and it feels like you can fly.”