logo
Glasgow couple to abseil 30m down Kelpies for SSAFA

Glasgow couple to abseil 30m down Kelpies for SSAFA

Glasgow Times2 days ago

Carol and Charles Diaper, from St George's Cross in Glasgow, will climb the inside of one of the Kelpies before abseiling down the 30-metre-high sculpture on June 27, as part of the SSAFA Kelpie Experience.
The event raises funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
It offers participants a guided aerial climb up the world's largest equine sculptures, with the option to descend via a free-hanging abseil or "Quick Flight" rope drop.
Carol and Charles will climb and abseil the Kelpies to raise money for charity (Image: Supplied)
Read more: Glaswegians urged to 'light up the longest day' and help feed hungry children
Carol, a professional trumpeter, said: "We both feel passionate about supporting the people who serve in the Armed Forces, both home and abroad.
"SSAFA does such good work with serving personnel, veterans, and their families, so when we saw the Kelpie event, we thought this was the perfect way of challenging ourselves whilst also raising vital funds for the charity."
This challenge marks yet another adventure for the brave couple who are both PADI Rescue Divers.
Carol recently completed her 500th dive in Fiji last year and has raised more than £50,000 for charity through fire walks, freefall parachuting, Everest Base Camp treks, and a 500km cycle ride in China.
The adventurous couple are both PADI rescue divers (Image: Supplied)
The couple's choice to raise funds for the Armed Forces is tied to their personal links to the organisation.
Charles's uncle served as a Group Captain in the RAF and was Commandant of the now-closed Headley Court rehabilitation hospital.
The couple also have a close friend who is an engineer in the Royal Navy.
To support Carol and Charles' fundraising, visit community.ssafa.org.uk/pf/carol-diaper.
The Kelpies Experience takes participants into the horse's mouth via cables, ladders, and suspended platforms.
Designed for families, schools, and children aged ten and above (with under 17s accompanied by an adult), the event places a strong emphasis on safety.
All climbers will be securely attached to a safety cable throughout and supported by professional guides.
The couple are keen to raise funds for SSAFA due to their personal links to the armed forces (Image: Supplied)
Read more: 'We never knew when she'd have a seizure': Mum on raising child with rare condition
Carol said: "To anyone thinking about doing the challenge, I would say, just be brave.
"It's an amazing feeling to challenge yourself both physically and mentally.
"I know we'll both be a bit nervous from the heights, but that's what all the safety systems and guides are for.
"The best feeling is knowing that all the money raised will go towards people who serve our country."
The Kelpie Experience will take place on June 21 and again during Armed Forces Week on June 27.
Individual registration costs £50, while a family of four (two adults and two children) can take part for £70, with a fundraising target of £250.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ITV Border archive: Celebrating the King's official birthday
ITV Border archive: Celebrating the King's official birthday

ITV News

time13 hours ago

  • ITV News

ITV Border archive: Celebrating the King's official birthday

Watch ITV Border archive footage of King Charles as he visited our region in the 1970s and 80s. Saturday 14 June marked the King's official birthday with celebrations and the Trooping the Colour parade taking place in Central London. Military pomp and pageantry was on display in London to mark the milestone but the event also remembered those killed in the Air India plane crash. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King requested amendments to the Trooping the Colour programme 'as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy." Trooping the Colour saw more than 1,000 servicemen taking part in the military display who when not performing ceremonial duties are fighting soldiers. The colour – regimental flag – being trooped this year is the King's Colour of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, a prestigious regiment known as the sovereign's bodyguard which is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. ITV Border archive footage from 1977 showcases the King on Ullswater's dry ski-slope. In 1981 he visited south-west Scotland where one spectator was lucky enough to get a kiss off of the future King. Four years later he was in Whitehaven where retrieved a women's hat before returning it to her.

Hybrid hospitality chief says firm serves 'diverse audience'
Hybrid hospitality chief says firm serves 'diverse audience'

The Herald Scotland

time21 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Hybrid hospitality chief says firm serves 'diverse audience'

Read more in our exclusive Q&A here: Name: Ben McLeod What is your business called? The Social Hub Glasgow Where is it based? Glasgow What does it produce/do? We're a hybrid hospitality concept that combines hotel accommodation, with student and long-term stay rooms, coworking spaces, meeting and event venues, food and drink venues – all under one roof. It's a place where travellers, students, locals, and professionals can meet, learn, stay, work, and play. To whom does it sell? Our audience is incredibly diverse, from international students and business travellers to tourists and Glaswegians who come for a coffee, run their businesses from our coworking spaces, or to attend events to network, or simply have fun. We're also a growing destination for corporate and private event bookings. It's a community-first space designed to serve a wide cross-section of people with beautifully designed spaces aimed at building communities. How many employees? We currently have a team of 55. Why did you take the plunge? To be honest, I wasn't actively looking for a new role — I was headhunted through a recruiter. At the time, I was Head of Operations for a family-run hospitality group with multiple venues and hotels across Central Scotland. What intrigued me about The Social Hub was the uniqueness of the concept. The more I learned, the more excited I became. It felt like an opportunity to build something that hadn't been done before in the UK – certainly not in Scotland. READ MORE: 'Scotland's largest hotel' opens on site of famous former department store I've always loved hospitality. I got my start years ago in Grantown-on-Spey, working in bars and clubs while studying. Over time I took on more responsibility, worked across independent and branded operations, and spent time in Australia and the Middle East. What kept me hooked was developing people and seeing guests enjoy the experiences we create – that's the essence of hospitality for me. More than financial success, that's always been the pull. What were you doing before? I was head of operations for a family-run hospitality group, overseeing around 11 venues. It was fast-paced, hands-on, and a great grounding for the challenges of a launch like this. What do you least enjoy? There are always day-to-day challenges – mainly around managing people with different needs and communication styles, which requires constant adaptation. But that's also what makes it interesting, and also what makes our offering so unique – that mix of backgrounds and experience. The beauty of this role is that I'm not buried in paperwork. The business is well structured, and I have a fantastic team around me. That makes a huge difference. What are your ambitions for the firm? We want to be Glasgow's number one impact-driven hospitality venue… the go-to place for students, long and short term stay accommodation, dining and meetings and events. We aim to be the place to be in the city to meet people from all walks of life in a dynamic environment, and honestly, it feels like we're well on our way. We've already surpassed everything we thought we could achieve in our first year. The team has done a phenomenal job of showing Glasgow what The Social Hub can be. What single thing would most help? Continued support from our community and city stakeholders. We want to keep building something meaningful for Glasgow, and local backing makes a massive difference. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? Trust your team. Give them the tools, space, and support to learn, grow, and make mistakes. You can't do it all yourself, although it's human nature to try. The real job of a leader is putting the right people in the right places, then letting them do their thing. What was your best moment? Helping to launch and build something entirely new in the UK has been incredibly rewarding. A real highlight was in May when The Social Hub Glasgow hosted its Better Society Academy – an event that brings together next-generation business leaders from across Europe to help the business world address Net Zero challenges. First Minister John Swinney was the headline speaker and toured the building as part of it. He absolutely loved it – and the community we've built. The nation's media was here, and seeing the First Minister's reaction to The Social Hub, and the positive change we are trying to drive in society was amazing. I also look back fondly on my time in the UAE, growing brands in a tough and complex market. It was highly international, and creating a culture where every voice mattered stood out to me. Working with Stewart Black, a former CEO I hugely admire, was another pivotal experience. He believed passionately in building profit through people and culture, and that changed the way I viewed leadership. I have another inspirational CEO now in Charlie MacGregor, and am learning so much from him too. What was your worst moment? Burning out at 25. I took on too much, too fast, convinced I was better than I was, and eventually walked away from hospitality altogether. I sold everything and travelled the world. In Australia, I had no intention of returning to the industry, but I ended up doing a trial shift at The Meat & Wine Co in Darling Harbour. I was supposed to be there for three hours, but I ended up staying until 11pm and I was hooked all over again. The culture was different, hospitality was a respected trade; people were career waiters and bartenders; Sundays came with a service charge that went straight to staff. It was thoughtful, balanced, and inspiring. I was offered the chance to stay, but the pull of family brought me home. Still, that experience gave me a new perspective and reignited my passion. How do you relax? Family is everything. I've got three very active kids, and I try to spend as much time as possible with them, whether that's swimming, being outdoors, or playing golf. I love getting to the driving range or squeezing in a round when I can. One of the best things about working for The Social Hub is that work-life balance is genuinely prioritised. I'm not contacted outside of work hours, and that's down to having a strong team and the right culture. It makes all the difference.

‘The best' – Meghan honours Harry in heartfelt Father's Day message
‘The best' – Meghan honours Harry in heartfelt Father's Day message

The Herald Scotland

timea day ago

  • The Herald Scotland

‘The best' – Meghan honours Harry in heartfelt Father's Day message

'The best,' she captioned her post. 'Happy Father's Day to our favorite guy.' The compilation showed photos and videos of Harry laughing, dancing and spending quality time with his children through the years. The duchess made her social media return in early 2025 and regularly shares personal milestones and professional updates through her Instagram account. Harry and Meghan have been raising their children in Montecito, California since announcing they were stepping back as working members of the royal family on January 8 2020. The couple have since been at the centre of tensions with other royals, with the duke becoming estranged from his father, the King, and his brother, the Prince of Wales. In a recent interview, Harry said he 'would love a reconciliation' with his family, claiming Charles will not speak to him and expressing concern that he does not know 'how much longer my father has'. Harry was not the only royal father to receive a Father's Day appreciation post. William's children earlier wished him a happy Father's Day in a social media post declaring: 'We love you!' Two new photographs of William and his three children, George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, were released on Sunday. The first picture shows the prince and his children posing for a family picture in a garden, while in the second picture, William and the youngsters are shown wrestling playfully in the grass, with the two boys holding their father down and Charlotte laughing. Happy Father's Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L 💖 📸 Josh Shinner — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2025 In their post, the three children wrote: 'Happy Father's Day, Papa (before and after!) 'We love you!' The message was signed 'G, C & L' followed by a sparkly heart emoji. Kensington Palace said the photographs were taken by professional photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk earlier this year. The King and Queen have also wished fathers around the world a happy Father's Day by posting photographs of their own fathers on the royal family's Instagram account. 'To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father's Day today,' the official account said. The post shared a photograph of the late Prince Philip playing with a young Charles and the Princess Royal on a swing. A picture of Camilla and her father Major Bruce Shand was also shared, showing the pair posing for a photograph on Camilla and Charles's wedding day on April 9 2005.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store