A FORMER Desert Rat is taking on a 12,000ft tandem skydive to raise cash for injured ex-soldiers – at the grand old age of 92.

Stanway grandad Leonard Stephenson will make the first parachute jump of his long life with son Adrian, 50, on September 9.

He has passed a medical and is all set to take the plunge with the Red Devils at their Wiltshire headquarters.

It is in aid of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home for physically disabled ex-servicemen and women, in Worthing, West Sussex.

Mr Stephenson, of Juniper Road, Stanway, joined the Territorial Army shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, and was an infantryman throughout with the 4th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, 4th Division Gurkha Brigade, Eighth Army.

He said he counted himself lucky to have come through the famous Desert Rats campaign in North Africa unscathed, and wanted to help soldiers who had been less fortunate.

Mr Stephenson, who plays golf twice a week, said: “I am looking forward to it but with trepidation. I hope my knees will be up to it.”

The dad-of-three, who is married to Peggy, 92, added: “I’m very proud of my son, who has decided to do the jump with me, for the same charity, and who has handled it all for me.”

Adrian, who runs Impression Europe, the promotional business gifts company set up by Leonard 30 years ago, said: “I was hoping my son would have been able to do it as well, to make it three generations, but we decided he was a bit young. My mum will be glad when it is all over.”

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, which provides nursing care and rehabilitation, receives no Government funding and has to raise £1.2million a year.

Anyone who wants to sponsor the jump should visit www.justgiving.com/ Leonard-Stephenson