A CLUB near Whitchurch has held the UK's only LGBT skydiving event as Pride events took place up and down the country this month.

Skydive Tilstock Freefall Club, which is based in Tilstock Airfield, held its Rainbow Boogie over three days from Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17.

The organisers confirmed it had been a good turnout over the past three days and had an average turnout of 75 over the past three days and completed a total of 836 jumps.

Chief instructor Alex Busby-Hicks said: "It was a fantastic event.

"It is obviously taking place during Pride month and Skydive Tilstock Freefall Club prides itself on its openness, inclusivity and diversity.

 

Whitchurch Herald: Club members come from across the UK and further afield. Pic: Paul Rimmington.Club members come from across the UK and further afield. Pic: Paul Rimmington. (Image: Paul Rimmington)

"This is the fourth or fifth year we have done it and each year it becomes more and more popular."

Alex mentioned that the club received skydivers from outside the UK for the event.

He said: "We had a skydiver who came from Arizona specifically to come to this event and another who came over from India and came to visit us as part of a challenge he is doing of jumping in as many skydiving centres as he can.

"We also receive visitors from Wales and Ireland."

Alex explained the personal issues which led Tilstock to hold the Rainbow Boogie.

He added: "My nephew came out in the early 2000s.

Whitchurch Herald: The first dive took place in 2019. Pic: Paul Rimmington.The first dive took place in 2019. Pic: Paul Rimmington. (Image: Paul Rimmington)

"That played on my mind for a long time about the issues LGBT in society face.

"One day one of my club jumpers came to be and expressed concern that he thought somebody else was being treated differently because of his sexuality.

"That served as a catalyst.

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"Since I heard about my nephew I always wanted to run a Rainbow Boogie.

"I was quite big in the US at the time but had never been done in the UK.

"And these factors led me to decide we were going to do it. And we held the first one in 2019. This year was our fourth event."