Fleetwood man Bobby to tackle climbing wall higher than Blackpool Tower

His route will take him across the front of Switzerland’s Diga di Luzzone dam and scale the heights of 541.3ft, from the base of the dam to the top - higher than Blackpool Tower’s 518.3ft.

Bobby, a professional rope access technician, was looking for a challenge which would test his skills and at the same time help him raise money for his favourite charity, Alzheimer’s Research UK.

In his job on oil and gas rigs across the UK and overseas, Bobby uses specialised harnesses and rope to access difficult to reach areas for a variety of professional tasks.

But he and pal Simon Turner, from mid-Wales, who is taking on the challenge with him, are not experienced climbers.

Bobby, 29, of Mowbray Road, said: “We both work in rope access but we are novices to climbing and there’s a huge difference in technique and equipment, so we've set our date for the climb for next April.

“That gives us time to train ourselves and practice over the next eight months. It will be a bit scary but if it was easy we wouldn’t be doing it!

“I’ve seen videos of people climbing it so it gives us an idea of what it’s like.”

The on-going Covid-restrictions will affect aspects of their training but the pair plan to do some preparation in the Brecon Beacons.

Facing them will be a daunting structure featuring more than 650 artificial holds bolted into a sheer concrete face.

it also happens to be the highest man-made climbing route in the world.

Bobby chose the Alzheimer’s Research UK because he watched his beloved grandfather, Richard Garrett, struggle with the illness, and he has set a target of £5,000.

He said: “He was a father figure to me and it was hard seeing him go through that.”

To support him, visit the Bobby and Simon’s Big Climb for Charity on Facebook.