Nonagenarian who took on daring wing-walk to find brain tumour cure visits research centre

A nonagenarian who took on a daring wing-walk in memory of his son lost to a brain tumour, has visited a research centre where scientists are striving to find a cure for the devastating disease.

Inspired by his son Martin, Gordon Carter from Taunton, 92, took on a wing-walk above Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton in August 2021 to raise funds for national charity Brain Tumour Research.

The challenge was watched by Martin’s partner Diane Scully, three of Gordon’s children, three of his ten grandchildren, as well as four of his six great-grandchildren and attracted more than £3,000 in donations – enough to sponsor the equivalent of one day of research.

Gordon and Diane were invited to the charity’s Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, on May 31, which is leading the way in research into glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain tumour in adults and the type of brain tumour Martin had.

Martin, who lived near Martock with Diane, ran a communications consultancy, and was a journalist with newspapers including the Western Daily Press, Swindon Advertiser and the Bridgwater Mercury before taking up the post of NHS communications director for Somerset and Dorset.

In May 2016, Martin was on holiday in Mauritius when he went to hospital suffering with an excruciating headache. A scan revealed he had an aggressive and inoperable glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour.

He was transferred back to Yeovil District Hospital, but died just 13 weeks after his diagnosis.