A 72-year-old grandmother who was the first female Red Devil has become Alton Towers Resort’s first-ever Chief Thrillseeker.
Trailblazer Jackie Smith, who has devoted her entire life to adventure, has taken up a 12-month role to provide “unrivalled expertise” to the resort’s teams.
She said: “It’s my absolute honour to be appointed Alton Towers’ first Chief Thrillseeker.
“Alton Towers sets the bar worldwide for thrill-seekers and I can’t wait to bring my expertise from a life-time of adventure to help ensure they continue to set new standards.”
Jackie was the first woman to join the British Army Parachute Regiment’s Freefall Display Team, the Red Devils, in 1971 at the age of just 19.
She became the first woman to receive the Parachute Regiment’s prestigious red beret two years later.
In 1978, she entered the record books at the parachuting World Championships when she became the first skydiver to hit dead-centre on the electronic scoring pad in all ten rounds.
Jackie’s career has incorporated over 5,000 parachute jumps, including base jumping off El Capitan, in California’s Yosemite National Park, jumping behind the Iron Curtain at a 1974 competition in Hungary, landing on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiroand opening the 1986 Commonwealth Games while four months pregnant.
She said: “This was one of my hairiest jumps. When we set off, the weather above Edinburgh was great, but it suddenly turned and started blowing a gale.
“When I was coming in to land on the pitch at Meadowbank stadium I was caught by a huge gust that essentially folded my parachute in half. Those final moments were nerve-wracking but I landed in one piece.
“That morning I had been feeling unwell, and a week later I found out why – I was four months pregnant at the time with my first child and didn’t know it.”
Jackie’s responsibilities as Chief Thrillseeker will include taking part in a biannual Thrillseeker Summit to ensure the resort continues to offer the ultimate experience for visitors of all ages.
Her first day on the job saw her take on Alton Towers’ most iconic attraction Nemesis Reborn, which has just been undergone an 18-month transformation.
She added: “My first time on the iconic Nemesis Reborn definitely met my high standards for thrills – it felt like my first jump all over again!
“Being here today makes me realise how a theme park like Alton Towers is a real family affair, and I hope that my new role as Chief Thrillseeker showcases just how those of all ages can enjoy the experience.”
