'I said I could do a loop-the-loop'

Catherine Grimley reached 3,000 ft when wing walking for charity

A 72-year-old woman and her "flying circus" have raised more than £50,000 to help buy bionic arms for children and adults.

Catherine Grimley, from West Sussex, and 15 volunteers, completed a wing walk to raise funds for the Hand Project and Open Bionics Foundation.

Taking place at the Royal Flying Corps Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester, the team's aerobatics included looping the loop, barrel role and a stall dive while strapped to a Boeing–Stearman Model 75 biplane.

"The pilot, Dave, told me that more people have climbed Everest than have done looping the loop," said Mrs Grimley.

The team set up a Just Giving fundraising page called Mistress Glover and her Flying Circus.

Mrs Grimley said she was also named "mistress" as her husband is the master of The Glovers, a company formed in 1349 by glove makers in London who wished to protect the standard of their craft.

With philanthropy "at it's core", The Glovers have been helping people raise money for prosthetics since 2018.

Catherine Grimley was joined by the "flying circus", 15 volunteers who helped raise more than £50,000 for prosthetics

Mrs Grimley, who enjoys being in the skies, told the BBC it was her husband, Clive Grimley, who suggested doing a wing walk for charity.

"And then I said - I could do looping the loop, and it literally took off!

"I'd already done a wing walk for my birthday in 2020 which made me eligible for the looping."

Each member of the flying circus was in the air for about 10 minutes during Tuesday's event, which Mrs Glover said "was not long enough".

'Life changing'

Mr Glover, who said he remained "firmly on the ground" added the day was "fantastic".

"We were really trying to find a big activity that could capture the imagination and raise a lot of money," he said.

"These prosthetics are life changing - children are now holding a pencil or riding a bike."