Lady Provost ready to abseil 165ft off the Forth Bridge

BEING the Lady Provost can often see her left in the shadow of her husband during council functions and visits.

This weekend, Elizabeth Grubb will be catapulting her way into the limelight when she abseils 165ft from the Forth Bridge.

By taking the plunge this Sunday, Mrs Grubb is set to raise hundreds of pounds for a local charity which helped her mother.

She will be joined by two generations of her family - daughter Mhairi Flannigan, 45, and grandsons Andrew, 18, and Grant, 16.

Her husband, Lord Provost George Grubb, will be watching with his feet firmly on the ground.

Mrs Grubb, 73, said: "He knows I'm nuts and he thinks he will just leave this to me, but he is very supportive."

Mrs Grubb and her family are doing the charity abseil, organised by the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, in memory of her mother, Betty Grant, who died in 2008 aged 97.

Despite the fact her mother did not have a head for heights during her lifetime, Mrs Grubb will be taking her photograph with her when she abseils from the bridge.

She said: "It's a big family celebration and will be in memory of my mother.

"She would rather have died than take on any heights as she had an absolute terror of heights, but I will be taking her photograph up there with me.

"She was a very special woman and I'm very proud to do it in her name."

This is not the first time thrill-seeking Mrs Grubb has taken on such a challenge, having abseiled once already and taken part in a zip-slide in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

She said: "It feels like you're floating and it's a wonderful feeling.

"I hope that all four of us can go down together.

"The bridge is very special to me and my family because my grandfather was a blacksmith and helped to build it so I'm sure there are some rivets up there with his hammer marks on."

Money raised by Mrs Grubb and her family will go to the Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC).

The event is free for spectators but the fee for those taking part is 20, plus 120 minimum sponsorship.

To take part in the abseil, go to http://rcsq.org.uk.