Lord Mayor of Portsmouth gearing up for abseil down Emirates Spinnaker Tower

Now the councillor who has taken up the mayoral robes this year says he will take up the challenge – if the public donates £1,000 to his appeal supporting good causes.

Cllr David Fuller – despite admitting he’s ‘petrified’ of heights – is keen to give it a go with his sister, the Lady Mayoress Leza Tremorin.

It is part of the Lord Mayor’s bid to raise £60,000 in total for organisations across the city during his term in office.

Cllr Fuller said: ‘It was my idea. I thought “wouldn’t it be great to be the first Lord Mayor to go down the tower”.

‘And in doing so I want to collect £1,000 to help local charities and to support Portsmouth.

‘I want to see if there’s anyone out there who would be interested in helping.’

Asked how he’s feeling about the challenge, Cllr Fuller said: ‘I’m petrified of heights. I don’t even know why I’ve said I’ll do it.

‘But it’s all for a good cause; to help people, terminally-ill kids, as well as Queen Alexandra Hospital and the Royal Navy charity appeal.’

Cllr Fuller, a senior freemason at Charles Dickens Lodge, is confident lodges across Hampshire will dig deep and raise cash towards his appeal.

He said: ‘With my masonic connections as well, I have been promised a lot from the lodges.

‘They are very pleased that I am open about it all.

‘So hopefully they will be able to provide. Charles Dickens Lodge has already put £500 into the appeal.’

Cllr Fuller, appointed the city’s new mayor for the 2016/2017 year at May’s mayor-making ceremony, says he has embraced the role with open arms.

He took centre stage at the Pearl Izumi Tour Series finals in Portsmouth as he was drenched in champagne at the presentation ceremony with elite riders.

And Cllr Fuller, joined by the Lady Mayoress, visited 11 street parties at the weekend across the area as residents celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Cllr Fuller said: ‘I am having brilliant fun.

‘The warmth of the Portsmouth people is amazing. The people have been so happy to meet us.’