RETIRED industrial chemist is planning to abseil down the Wallace monument in Stirling at the age of 87, becoming the oldest person to tackle the monument.
Mr John Hatton, of Muckhart Road, Dollar, a cross-country runner and hill walker for more than 50 years, will squeeze through an arrow slit near the top of the 225ft structure at the end of the month as part of a charity abseil organised by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Mr Hatton has been training at Hadrian's Wall indoor climbing centre at Falkirk.
In all, the drop will be about 170ft and he admits to being only ''mildly apprehensive''.
He will be joined on the abseil by 21-year-old media studies student Johanna McVicar, from Bishopton, Renfrewshire.
Ms McVicar has chronic myeloid leukemia and her only hope of recovery is with a bone marrow transplant.
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