An epic airborne journey from one end of the country to another using just a lawnmower motor and a parachute has landed estate agent adventurer James Du Pavey in the record books.

Guinness World Records has formally certified James’s 870 mile charity flight from John O’Groats to Land’s End as a record breaker. Using a paraglider powered by a lawnmower engine, James completed the journey in just 36 hours, more than half the time of the former record.

James, who founded James Du Pavey Independent Estate Agents and was dubbed ‘the Flying Estate Agent’, describes his paramotor as ‘a parachute powered by a large fan’. The now world-record breaking flight began in John O’Groats at 3.30am on Monday July 8th and ended 36 hours and 19 minutes later in Land’s End.

‘I am so chuffed that Guinness have confirmed the flight as a record,’ said James, from Market Drayton. ‘It was an incredible challenge for a fantastic cause and I am so proud to have done it.’

The flight was in aid of The Donna Louise Hospice for Children & Young People based in Stoke-On-Trent. James has now raised over £12,000 for the charity, which provides support for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and supports their families.

During the flight, James reached heights of 10,000ft and managed to escape unscathed from three separate crash landings into a garden, a cricket pitch and even a police dog training field. He also suffered an engine failure just six miles from Land’s End.

James said: ‘There were so many variables to think about. Paramotor engines are notoriously unreliable so there was always the risk of failure. The wind was a constant concern, as well as the remoteness of some areas of the Scottish Highlands.

‘I had a two-man ground crew, Iain Parker and Jonathan Bott, clocking up over 2500 miles following me the whole way. I had to rely on the kindness of the country’s farmers every time I landed in their field to refuel. Everybody I’ve met has been so welcoming. It just goes to show how good people are, even when you’re landing on their property all over the show.’

The John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge, also known as ‘JOGLE’, is a popular challenge of fitness and determination, with many aiming to set impressive times using various modes of transport. The previous quickest time set between the two points was seven days, set by Flying for Heroes in 2011.

Nathan Walton, Director of Income Generation at The Donna Louise said: ‘James and his team have been supporting The Donna Louise since 2017, raising over £35,000 through various fundraising initiatives and challenges.

‘James’ paramotor challenge really has upped the game, though! We can’t say a big enough thank you to James for braving this totally wacky and wonderful challenge; the funds he has raised will do so much to support the children, young people and families who rely on our services.’

James, who has now raised well over £35,000 in total for the charity through various events, said he felt his support for the hospice was vital. He said: ‘The Donna Louise is such a special place and provides such an important, critical service for children and families in Staffordshire and Cheshire with life limiting conditions.

‘In a time of cutbacks to the NHS and community services, charities like this have a larger role than ever to play in these families’ lives and every penny raised makes a real difference.

‘The whole thing, the blood sweat and tears, were worth it. That place is so special. When things got really bad, I thought to myself, genuinely, those parents and those kids have to put up with this every single day and the only thing they’ve got for them is the Donna Louise. And that’s what got me through.’

Now that he has secured the record, James said he’s not too concerned about new attempts to claim it.

‘I am never doing anything like that again,’ he said. ‘I was absolutely ruined afterwards. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a fantastic cause but I am definitely never doing it again. But we will definitely carry on supporting the Donna Louise in lots of other ways.

‘If anybody wants to try and claim this record, they’re welcome to it.’

James’ JustGiving page for the challenge is still open for donations here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/james-du-pavey1