Oldham ‘adrenaline junkie’, 81, to skydive for charity

The 81-year-old says he’s ‘too old’ to run marathons but "can still obey the laws of gravity".

Tony ‘Spike’ Milligan, who lives in Chadderton, is raising money for Outpost, a volunteer-run charity that aims to support military veterans.

Tony Milligan holding the Royal Artillery standard on the day of the Queen’s funeral (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

The charity provides support such as food, clothing, and white goods for those in financial hardship, as well as a veterans camp – a free five-day all-inclusive activity retreat in the Scottish highlands to help improve mental health and well-being.

Tony, who served in the Royal Artillery and is now a member of Oldham’s Royal Artillery Association, has been on one of the charity trips himself, joining a ski trip in January.

He said: “My head said ‘you remember how to Ski, Tony’ and my body said ‘are you having a laugh, mate? You’re 81 not 18.’

“We had a bit of fun though.

“Soldiers will talk to another soldier where they find it difficult to open up to a psychiatrist or a psychologist, someone like that.”

More than £600 has already been raised on the Facebook fundraiser, with a target set of £2,000.

Tony said: “I put £2,000 as an arbitrary figure, I thought if I made it high and I got halfway I’d be alright.”

The skydiving will take place in Cartmel on Saturday, April 8 – or, Holy Saturday.

Tony has experience jumping, having completed 61 parachute jumps as a sport, meaning his family are not surprised, though he admits ‘of course I’m a bit nervous, if you’re not apprehensive then you’re mad’.

“My family all think I’m slightly daft, anyway,” Tony added. 

Outpost is a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated organisation with number SC044790.