Mary, 76, does skydive

Mary, chairman of the Uckfield Branch, was strapped to a professional parachutist and the pair went into freefall for 5,000 feet before opening their parachute and floating to the ground.

She said: 'I didn't have time to be frightened.

'We were shown how to hold yourself when you land but someone else does all the hard part for you.

'All I did was lift my feet up and we were on the ground - at the exact spot we were meant to land.'

Mary, who lives in The Drive, volunteered for the jump which took place over Headcorn Airport near Maidstone on Sunday.

She has been a member of the legion since 1953 and wants to encourage other people to support this year's appeal.

'I am prepared to do anything to boost the appeal, even if it means jumping out of an aeroplane.'

But she stressed the easiest way is to become a poppy collector.

Mary raised more than 1,000.