FLANKED by two members of Boyzone she was the envy of girls all over the country.
But at 94 years of age, Doris Thompson took it all in her stride as she was catapulted 210 feet in the air at 80mph to officially launch the Pleasure Beach's new Playstation ride.
The fun park's plucky chairman was given the all-clear by her doctor to try out the vertical ride - a first for the UK and said to be similar to ejecting from a fighter plane.
And she certainly rose to the challenge, taking her seat between band members Stephen Gately and Ronan Keating.
Doris, who has been on every Pleasure Beach ride except the Big One, said: "When I told the doctor I wanted to go on it he looked at me as if I was mad but he said I was able to go on it if I wanted to.
"The ride was very exciting, smooth and so quick - you're up and down before you know it.
"And it was lovely sitting between the boys. They held my hands and I bet all the fans want to tear my hair out now."
Doris' feat certainly earned the approval of the band. Ronan, who later dedicated a live version of Father and Son to her, said: "Fair play to her for going up. We were more nervous than she was."
She was certainly braver than Mikey Graham who, because of a fear of heights, at first declined the offer of a free ride.
"I went on the Big One the last time we were here and I said never again," he explained. "It's not for me at all." But having seen his pals enjoy their trips he took the plunge - three times in a row.
And his verdict? "Absolutely brilliant."
Steve was equally impressed, saying: "It was excellent and the view is wonderful."
But Keith Duffy, a self-confessed speed freak, took it all in his stride. "It just wasn't fast enough for me," he said.
The Playstation ride, costing £2million and sponsored by Sony, has proved popular since it opened on May Day, attracting an extra third of a million people to the park already this year.
Director Geoffrey Thompson enthused: "I knew it was going to be an exciting ride after hearing about a similar one in America but this has exceeded my expectations."
Doris performed the feat for the Motor Neurone Disease charity.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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