Over the battlements at Arundel Castle for charity abseil

An estimated 15,000 was raised for Winston's Wish, which supports bereaved children and young people and has set up a branch in West Sussex.

First over the top was Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk, and between then and 7pm, a further hundred or so followed, including children from Littlehampton swimming club.

In wet, blustery weather, the Marine's Commando Display team, headed by Captain Richard Pinney, briefed, harnessed and got people to climb onto the ledge.

Swasie Turner, a former police officer who lost a leg in the line of duty, even went down in a wheelchair.

Given the awful weather conditions, participants could have been forgiven for finding they had a pressing engagement elsewhere, but Keith Boyd-Seymour, for Arundel Rotary Club, which stewarded the event, said "very few dropped out either due to the weather or the terror".

David George, head guide at Arundel Castle, who confesses to having a "monumental fear of heights", described the sensation of jumping off a 150 foot tower as "simply awesome".

But having got over the standing on the edge, leaning out into nothing, then moving his reluctant feet off the ledge he said the rest was "almost an anticlimax", and the fear was outweighed by the achievement.

Everybody praised the marines, who co-ordinated the event admirably, and helped calm the many who were fearful of the drop.

Captain Pinney said: "People are not exposed to the elements in this way very often, and being on top of a 150 feet tower concentrates minds.

"But only a couple decided against it at the last minute, while a few who were teetering on the edge went ahead."

Winston's Wish's spokeswoman Clare Scherer said: "This is our first major event, and although the weather reduced the number of spectators, we are bowled over by what people have done, and in such terrible weather conditions. They were so brave".