A HEYBRIDGE tearoom employee who is approaching her 80th birthday has walked on the top of a biplane to raise money for Parkinsons and neurological charities.

Suzanne Gratton, 79, works in Tiptree’s ‘The Lock Tea Room' in Heybridge and has been ‘ticking off her bucket’ list before her 80th birthday in November.

On Sunday, Suzanne went wing walking, where you walk on the top of an airplane and commonly a biplane, with The Wing Walking Company in Kent to raise funds for Parkinsons’ and neurological charities.

Suzanne said “it was frightening but amazing” to wing walk and stand on a Boeing Stearman that had been used for pilot training during the Second World War.

During her walk, the plane reached speeds of 80mph to 110 mph flying at between 100 and 700 ft. 

Proud - Suzanne Gratton after her wing walking which has already raised £1kProud - Suzanne Gratton after her wing walking which has already raised £1k (Image: Sally Carpenter for Wilkin & Sons)

Suzanne was supported by her family who watched her receive a certificate to confirm that she had completed the wing walk challenge.

Suzanne added: “Working in ‘the lock’ Tiptree tea room at Heybridge Basin you see people coming in to enjoy time with friends and to forget their problems.

“I wanted to make a small contribution to help some of them.”

Suzanne has already raised more than £1,000 and has revealed that her next fundraising challenge is to play the ukelele.