A Monmouth woman who had to be rescued from her house after it had flooded last year came up with the idea of a charity Abseil for the organisation that rescued her.

Roslyn had her 70th Birthday on Saturday and some of her family had travelled down from Newcastle to watch her abseil down the tower!

46 abseilers between 10 and 85 took part and the event raised around £4,000 towards essential water rescue equipment for SARA, the Severn Lifeboat group.

Around the church Rosalyn had arranged a mini fete with craft stalls and live music, Gwent Police had a stand giving out safety information and Fiona T Frank put on a concert of musical premieres in the church.

SARA Fundraising Manager Ryan Games said “we are very grateful to Roslyn for all her hard work in making the event so enjoyable for everyone”

Whilst the abseil was happening, the SARA Beachley lifeboats were busy. Already booked to provide river safety cover for the RAF Falcons parachute display team, whilst getting ready they were called out to a drifting boat on the Wye. They then took up their safety station on the Severn, but after a few minutes the parachute drop was called off. Whilst they were getting their lifeboat out at Beachley they were called again by the Coastguard, to someone in difficulty in the River Wye near Chepstow Castle - so it was back round to the Wye again!

As they arrived, the man was being helped up the mud by staff from Panevino Restaurant, who had thrown him a rope. Police and Coastguard officers were also in attendance, and the river level was dropping quickly, so once the man was safe the lifeboat was stood down, able to return to Beachley for the second time, and the crew could finally go home!