Harold Robson's Second Zip-wire Slide

President, Jo Robinson writes,

"Great Grandad and fellow Rotarian Harold Robson at 93 years young is still game for adventure so much so he has volunteered to take up a zip wire challenge for a second time. Harold completed his first zip wire event some seven months ago when he took up the challenge to honour his wife's memory by raising money for the Alzheimer's Society.

When Harold, who is a member of the  Rotary Club of Newcastle upon Tyne, heard that the club’s chosen charity for this year was Macmillan Cancer Support and one of their fund raising activities was a zip wire challenge across the River Tyne  he immediately, checked his diary and volunteered.

Needless to say there was much astonishment, admiration and cheering in the club. Harold said he understood the only age restriction to the zip wire event was to be over 18 so he didn't think he'd have any problems meeting that criteria.

Harold who lives in Whitley Bay is a father of three and has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Harold has also had personal experience of the tremendous work carried out by Macmillan Nurses and said he wanted to sign up to the challenge to support Macmillan.

As would be expected Harold was paid many accolades when he completed his first zip wire jump. There were a number of articles in local Newspapers and slots on local Radio. Rotary International invited Harold to the House of Lords where he was presented with the “Champion of Change” award. Harold had no idea he was to be given an award and thought he was just being invited as a special guest. Needless to say he was thrilled to receive the award.

Just recently Harold gave a telephone interview to the Editor of The Rotarian at Rotary Headquarters, Evanston,USA about his zip wire experience and the article will appear in the January 2017 edition of The Rotarian. We have of course advised the editor of Harold's new adventures which will no doubt be of great interest and we are looking forward to hearing from her.

Harold told us he had wonderful support the first time round and is a bit worried in case he doesn't get sponsorship a second time but, at 93 years young, we think he will be pleasantly surprised.

The Tyne Bridge Zip Slide took place on Saturday 15 October 2016 when our indefatigable Rotarian zipped diagonally across the River Tyne from the famous Newcastle Tyne Bridge (30m high) finishing at HMS Calliope on the Gateshead side of the river.  Harold is the second oldest person in the world to complete a zip wire challenge."