June Fenn has abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth at the age of 91 for Dementia-Friendly Alton and Brambleton Hall Church in Farnham.

So far June, of Alton, has raised more than £1,600 for her good causes. Next year she fancies driving round Thruxton racetrack or doing a skydive!

This was June’s first abseil, but she said she felt confident: “I had to be because I didn't know anything about it.

“I knew it was very high, because as we approached it I thought ‘uh-oh, it's high’. But I sort of just did as I was told for a change!”

Stepping out from the safety of the tower on to the wall did not faze her either.

June Fenn abseils down the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth on June 15th 2025.
June Fenn finds time for a wave on her way down the Spinnaker Tower (Photo: Spinnaker Tower). (Spinnaker Tower)

June said: “It was better than I thought because I didn't go out backwards. I went out frontwards and had to turn round, step over something on to a ledge which was about three or four inches wide, get the other leg over as well, and step back into it. Then I was shown the ropes - literally.”

The wind can blow quite strongly at the top of the tower, but June found her footwear more of an issue.

She said: “It was a bit windy, but not very windy. I think the wind cutting across probably made a bit of difference. But I was told to wear soft soles, so I wore plimsolls, and my feet kept slipping off the wall.

“I'd like to find out why. I don't know if it was my fault or if it was to do with my weight, whether I wasn't heavy enough to hold myself down. I just don't know.

“But anyway, I eventually got down and that was alright. When I got to the bottom somebody was saying ‘I've got you, I've got you’ and I thought well, I've got further to go yet, I'm not down yet - and of course I was actually down there!”

June Fenn abseils down the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth on June 15th 2025.
June Fenn goes horizontal on her way down the tower (Photo: Spinnaker Tower). (Spinnaker Tower)

June said she may return to Gunwharf Quays as a spectator to take in the spectacular views of Portsmouth because virtually all she saw on the way down was white concrete.

She added: “When I first got out there and the girl showed me the things, I got a quick view of everything, but then every time I tried to look round, I found that actually my neck doesn't go very far.

“I don't think that was an excuse, but all I could see was the wall, so I didn't really catch anything I'm afraid.”

Her adventurous nature has already got June thinking about a challenge for 2026.

June Fenn abseils down the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth on June 15th 2025.
Nearly there - June Fenn approaches the bottom of the tower (Photo: Spinnaker Tower). (Spinnaker Tower)

She said: “I'd quite like to do abseiling again, but then I'd rather do something different for next year, and people are suggesting all sorts of things.

“I said ‘well, I might not be here’ but they said you will, so I thought I'd quite like to drive round Thruxton.

“Some people are saying about bungee jumping. I said ‘no, certainly not’ but I might think about skydiving because several people have suggested that - so who knows?”