As housewarming parties go… Doctor Peter Lansley threw one to really remember.
Way back in August 1975 we featured the unusual arrival of the doctor and his pals Nick Owen, Ron O’Brian and John Hitchen in Staincross.
The quartet wanted to mark the moving in at the home off Limes Close in style and as members of the Grindale Parachute Club had the perfect solution.
Peter said: “I decided to make a parachute jump, partly for a laugh. But unfortunately the weather got the better of us last week when we should have made the original jump, so we waited until we got a fine day.”
They were welcomed with pints of beer upon arrival.
The article, dated 1st August 1975 reads:
Residents on a Staincross estate watched with awe on Friday night as the flying doctor dropped in.
Dr. Peter Lansley (27), and his three friends celebrated his moving into a new home in a most unusual way - by parachuting out of a plane.
Dr. Lansley, Ronnie O’Brian, John Hitchen and Mick Owen who are members of Grindale Parachute Club near Bridlington, dropped into a field behind Peter’s home in Limes Close.
Explained Peter: “I bought the house a few months ago, but I have spent so much time decorating and settling in I haven’t had time to celebrate moving in.
“So I decided to make a parachute jump, partly for a laugh. But unfortunately the weather got better of us last week, when we should have made the regional jump, so we waited until we got a fine day.”
Peter, who moved from Sheffield, had to receive permission from the Civil Aviation Authority before going ahead with his novel idea. Being experienced enough as a parachutist - two years a member of the Grindale Club and 143 jumps - he was given the O.K.
“Daddy” of the team is Ronnie O’Brian who has made the drop from the sky over a thousand times. When the four landed in the field, they were welcomed with foaming pints of beer.