Strong winds postpone abseil down Spinnaker Tower by seven mayors

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor David Fuller, the mayor of Gosport Councillor Lynn Hook and the mayor of Havant Councillor Faith Ponsonby were due to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower.

Along with four other mayors, the dignitaries were going to take their fundraising to new heights with the challenge.

But poor weather conditions meant all abseils planned for yesterday were called off.

It will hopefully go ahead next Sunday morning at 8.30am.

Cllr Fuller, who came up with the idea, said it was disappointing.

But speaking to the crowd at Gunwharf Quays he said he remained hopeful it would go ahead soon.

He is tackling the feat as part of his year in office to raise £60,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, NHS Trust Oncology & Haematology, and Help 4 Special Children.

Speaking at the launch earlier this year, Cllr Fuller said he’d taken inspiration from veteran Spinnaker abseiler ‘Daring’ Doris Long, who remarkably in 2014 did it on her 100th birthday.

He said: ‘I am excited, I have never done this sort of thing before.

‘But what keeps me going is if Doris can do it, then I will have a go at it.’

He added: ‘This is all about charity.

‘I want to raise as much money as possible, not just for my charities, but to help the other mayors with their charities too.

‘Since being lord mayor, I have met hundreds of people in the community and the benefits they bring to Portsmouth are unbelievable.’

The group, who called themselves the Magnificent Seven, includes the mayors of Winchester, Eastleigh and Southampton as well as the chair of East Hampshire.