Pam, 76, loves living life on the edge

Pamela Henthorn at Table Mountain

Pensioner Pamela Henthorn certainly has a head for heights. At 76 she has just abseiled down Table Mountain in South Africa - the oldest woman ever to do so.

That comes after a 14,000ft parachute jump, a 130ft bungee jump in New Zealand, abseiling down Rochdale’s former Black Box building and Oldham’s former Pennine Way Hotel, plus gliding and balloon rides.

Pamela, from Shaw, loves her life’s ups and downs - but says her 360ft Cape Town descent was probably her last as “she can’t top” the experience which involved rock climbing and a hike back to the top.

The feat came as she visited her actress daughter Karen, who is in Cape Town as a member of touring company of the National Theatre’s “War Horse”.

“My daughter told me about the abseil and I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed,” said Pamela, who has used her stunts to raise money for charity including Guide Dogs for the Blind.

“I’ve only ever abseiled down buildings before but this was nothing like that. You had to clamber down over boulders to get to the ledge you abseil off and on the way down you have to find places to put your feet. In some places there was no mountain face at all so I was a bit unprepared for that.

“It was pretty scary, I’ve got to admit, and I think it will definitely be my last as everything else would seem tame in comparison.”