Former Royal Navy Commander Charles Wylie abseils down Spinnaker Tower for 92nd birthday

For most nonagenarians, birthdays may involve a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake - but a former Royal Navy Commander has conquered a series of challenges that would make most people half his age think twice. Charles Wylie marked his 90th with a tandem skydive, his 91st rowing with a record- breaking team of elite oarsmen and has just completed a daredevil venture for his 92nd birthday - abseiling 328ft down Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.

The veteran, who joined the Navy in 1948 and fought in the Korean War, is taking on the challenges to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK. It is a charity close to his heart as his wife Jean has been living with the condition for 11 years. He said: "I wasn't the slightest bit nervous and did zero prep for the abseil - you just put your trust in the professionals and enjoy the ride!"

Charles was cheered on by 100 well-wishers, including family, friends and old naval colleagues - one of whom piped his bosun's call as Charles touched the ground, the usual signal for when a captain boards a ship. He has raised more than £30,000 of his £50,000 target, adding to his previous challenges' totals of £21,000 and £6,000 for the charity.

Charles and Jean, 91, have been married for 67 years and met when he gatecrashed a dance in Edinburgh in 1954. "She looked like Grace Kelly in the crowd and straight away I knew she was the one for me - her smile made my legs go weak," he said.

"Not only is she the most beautiful person I've ever known, she pretty much single-handedly brought up our four children while also working as a speech therapist when I was away at sea for months on end. Any of these challenges I do are a drop in the ocean compared to what she's achieved." He first noticed Jean's memory going and her acting out of character in 2013.

At first their GP diagnosed memory loss but the couple knew it was far more serious. Charles said: "It took seven years to finally get her diagnosis of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, and the support we needed. By then she had declined massively and I knew that I was losing her."

Now living in a specialist care home, Jean only recognises her doting husband when he performs his "special whistle". "A few weeks after we met we were walking in some woods and heard a blackbird's song, so I copied it with a whistle, something I've done ever since. Now when I sit by her side and do it, the biggest smile comes on to her face, and I know she's still there."

When Jean moved into her care home full-time in 2021 Charles found himself alone at home. So he hatched his plan for the birthday challenges.

"My naval career formed my attitude to what I can and can't do - by 17 I'd been in several major battles and was almost killed when our boat was bombed. But all these challenges are nothing compared to what Jean's going through now."

He completed his skydive in July 2023 with the Red Devils in Wiltshire and last summer rowed across Portsmouth Harbour with HMS Oardacious.

He says he is "open to any suggestions" for challenges in future years but insists it has to be "properly demanding".

"As long as I'm still fit in mind and body, why not keep going?" he said.

"I'll definitely keep going until I'm 104 to make full use of the solar panels on our house!

"I can't save Jean now but I can do my best to save others from this horrific disease. Alzheimer's Research UK has only one goal and that's to find a cure. It's estimated 50% of us will be affected by dementia in the next few years - we can't just do nothing."

Alzheimer's Research UK is encouraging people to sign its Dementia Unseen petition to improve the diagnosis process.

To sponsor Charles, visit www.just giving.com/page/charles-wylie-1678789500363