A daredevil grandmother is taking on the world’s fastest zipwire to celebrate her 90th birthday. Vivian Ellis will be joined by seven family members and friends for the challenge to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West. It will see Vivian, a great grandmother of two from Keynsham, whizz through the air at speeds of up to 100mph on the 1.5 kilometre Velocity Zip Wire in Snowdonia.
The spritely pensioner is hoping she and her team – including granddaughter Becky – will raise £5,000 when they take on the zip wire in May.
She said: “I’m not nervous at all. I like a bit of speed and I’m looking forward to the adrenaline rush. It will be a fun way to celebrate my 90th birthday and raise money for a great cause at the same time.”
Vivian is well used to a life of thrills, having once been a women’s world champion in sand yachting. She first became interested in the sport when her husband Geoff took it up.
The pair were introduced to the sport by a friend’s son who took the couple to an airfield in the Cotswolds to try it out. Geoff then went on to compete in the sport, with Vivian accompanying him to events – but it wasn’t long before she wanted a piece of the action herself.
She recalled: “I had become bored just watching said to Geoff I wasn’t going to go with him to any more competitions unless I could have a go myself.”
Vivian then sourced a sand yacht of her own and went on to win a race in a European championship. Keen to go further, her father then found her a Belgium built yacht and she went on to become a World Champion in the Class 3 Ladies’ Competition in 1984.
She said: “It was such a thrill. The yachts can travel at speeds of up to 80mph – and there’s no brakes.” Vivian retired from sand yachting in 1985 and went to run The Crown Inn in Keynsham with Geoff for several years before his death.
The zip wire is not the only fundraising challenge she has completed for charity. She abseiled down the side of Bristol Children’s Hospital in her early 80s to help raise funds for a dialysis machine and also ran the Bristol Half Marathon for Children’s Hospice South West 15 years ago, raising £6,000. Vivian still plays golf twice a week and says she enjoys a nightly glass of wine or two.
CHSW Area Fundraiser for West Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset Heidi Roberts said: “Viv is such an inspiring lady and so full of fun. Every time we chat on the phone, I feel so uplifted by her positive attitude and her passion to help CHSW.
“If you are inspired by Viv’s story, please look at the CHSW challenges for 2025 on CHSW.org.uk. I wish Viv and her family and friends all the very best with their challenge and fundraising.”
Vivian and her team can be sponsored here.