I Am A 72 Year Old Adrenaline Junkie Who Has Completed 5,000 Skydives In My Career, I Am Now A Grandmother But Have Just Landed My Dream Job At Alton Towers.

An adrenaline-junkie gran has landed her dream job at the age of 72 – testing out some of the UK’s spooky theme park rides.

Jackie Smith, from Wiltshire, has been hired by Alton Towers as its Head of Thrillseeker, taking up a 12-month role advising on how to ensure the rollercoasters and other attractions at the Midlands theme park remain as thrilling as possible.

The grandmother of four will draw on her experience in the British Army’s Parachute Regiment’s Freefall Display Team, the Red Devils, which she joined at the age of 19, becoming the first woman to join the regiment.

Two years later she became the first woman to receive the prestigious red beret of the Parachute Regiment.

In 1978, she broke a record at the World Parachuting Championships by becoming the first female skydiver to hit the exact centre of the electronic scoreboard in all ten rounds. A year later, she was nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Adrenaline junkie Jackie Smith, 72, has landed her dream job at Alton Towers Resort as head thrill-seeker.

During her career, Jackie has completed more than 5,000 skydives around the world, including in Yosemite National Park in California and Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In taking on her new role, Jackie will become the theme park’s thrill-seeking consultant to ensure its attractions remain enticing and terrifying.

But her first day in the job saw her board the Nemesis Reborn rollercoaster on its maiden voyage following an 18-month refurbishment that saw the entire 250-tonne frame replaced.

Jackie’s first day on the job saw her test-driving the Nemesis Reborn ride for its inaugural ride since its 18-month refurbishment which saw the entire 250-tonne frame replaced.

Jackie, now a grandmother of four, was just 19 when she became the first woman to join the British Army’s Parachute Regiment’s Freefall Display Team, the Red Devils, in 1971.

During her career, Jackie has completed over 5,000 skydives around the world.

Jackie said: “I am absolutely honoured to be named Alton Towers’ first Head Thrill Seeker.”

He added: “My first time on the iconic Nemesis Reborn definitely met my high standards for thrills – it felt like my first jump all over again!”

To celebrate the hiring of its first head thrill-seeker, theme park operator Merlin is offering kids tickets for just £19 to Alton Towers Resort; Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND Windsor and Warwick Castle.

Bianca Sammut, Divisional Director of Alton Towers Resort, said: “We are very excited to welcome the inspiring Jackie to our team. Her seven decades of thrill experience will undoubtedly elevate our attractions at Alton Towers.

‘Alton Towers is the beating heart of UK thrill-seeking, offering fantastic attractions for all ages, from children to grandparents. A true pioneer, Jackie proves that you’re never too old for a thrill.

‘As part of our summer of fun, we’re making it even easier to enjoy an exciting day with great deals for every member of the family.’

Jackie on her greatest adventures

1. Base jumping from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park

‘At the time I was in America training for the 1981 World Championships. We were at a barbecue and one of the lads said, ‘Shall we jump off El Capitan?’ so we drove through the night and walked up there.

“Jumping headfirst off the side of this 3,000-foot cliff was the most incredible adrenaline rush of my entire life.”

2. Opening the 1986 Commonwealth Games while four months pregnant

“This was one of my most daring jumps. When we set off, the weather over Edinburgh was excellent, but suddenly it changed and a gale started blowing.

‘As I was about to land on the field at Meadowbank Stadium, I was caught by a strong gust of wind that basically bent my parachute in half.

“Those last few moments were very stressful, but I landed in one piece. I had been feeling sick that morning, and a week later I found out why: I was four months pregnant with my first child and I didn’t know it.”

3. Jump behind the Iron Curtain

‘In 1974, a team of three from the Red Devils were invited to take part in a competition in Hungary. At that time, we were still behind the Iron Curtain, so there was a huge amount of paranoia.

“The authorities feared we were spying for Britain, so armed guards followed us everywhere, even in the landing zone. We couldn’t even go to the toilet without an escort.”

4. Landing on Copacabana beach

‘As part of the Red Devils, we played countless events in a single day. I don’t think there’s a single ground in Britain that I haven’t been to. And as ambassadors for the British Army, we also toured all over the world.

“When we visited Brazil we were treated like rock stars. There was a lot of interest in us, and in me in particular, because I was the first female Red Devil. The highlight of that trip was skydiving off Copacabana Beach in Rio.”

5. Paving the way for female parachutists

‘When I joined the army, women were banned from parachuting. At 19, I was posted to Aldershot, where the parachute regiment was based. I saw the lads training and something clicked in me.

‘I was very insistent that my superior officer let me do basic training. At the time, the higher-ups didn’t let women jump because they were worried that their underwear would show when they fell. It was absolutely ridiculous.

‘In the end, my persistence paid off and I was allowed to go through basic training and I never looked back.’

I am a 72 year old adrenaline junkie who has completed 5,000 skydives in my career, I am now a grandmother but have just landed my dream job at Alton Towers.

Jackie on her greatest adventures

I am a 72 year old adrenaline junkie who has completed 5,000 skydives in my career, I am now a grandmother but have just landed my dream job at Alton Towers.

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