Romford man, 74, taking on challenge for Queen’s and King George hospitals

Charlie Richardson has been supporting King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity for around five years (Credit: BHRUT)

Romford daredevil Charlie Richardson has announced the next challenge he is going to take on for charity. 

The 74-year-old has already abseiled down the 33-storey Broadgate Tower and completed a skydive to raise money for King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity. 

Now he and his 15-year-old granddaughter Emily will try and complete the rig climbing experience at London’s famous ship, the Cutty Sark, on Saturday, 10 September. 

“It’s newly introduced and my wife saw it advertised so I thought I’d do it,” explained Charlie. “I’m looking forward to it as it’s quite different to anything I’ve done before.

“I do get a bit nervous doing these challenges, due to the unknown. And in this one the rope ladder will be moving all the time so that’ll be interesting.

“I’m really excited Emily’s joining me this time – I’ve got permission from her mum and dad of course.”

Charlie started fundraising for the charity after his wife Marion was treated for breast cancer at one of their hospitals several years ago. 

In 2018 he raised over £2,000 doing a skydive and the following year he abseiled down the 33-storey Broadgate Tower. 

The pandemic forced him to stop doing challenges until last year when he scaled the O2. He also completed the skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground and abseiled down to the pitch. 

Charlie is aiming to raise £3,000 for the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity this time. The money will go towards their Volunteer team, where he has been giving up his time to help patients for the last five years. 

You can sponsor Charlie online here.  

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM