A 92-YEAR-OLD will take to the skies in a microlight tomorrow in a bid to save a church organ made famous by Downton Abbey.

Vera Elward, nee Tanner, will go up for a 30-minute flight at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire.

Despite having two replacement knees and hips, Mrs Elward wants to raise as much as she can towards the £400,000 needed to fix the pipe organ at St Mary’s Church, which is used as a location for the award-winning ITV drama.

It is the church where she was christened, married and where her late husband David is buried.

So far, donations have been flying in.

Mrs Elward said the flight shouldn’t be too nerve-wracking despite having to postpone it once earlier this year due to an operation.

She said: “We set about trying to do something to raise the money. I said I wanted to do something spectacular before I die.

“I first suggested a parachute jump but my daughter said there was no way she would let me do it.

“Then I suggested a balloon flight but she said I wouldn’t be able to do that with all my medical conditions. Then she came back with this.

“They have microlights specially adapted for disabled and blind people. If they can do it, surely I can.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Jill Hall, the church sacristan who is in charge of its contents, said: “We are absolutely thrilled she has decided to do this.

“There has been lots of sponsorship, people have been really inspired.”

She added: “The footfall has increased enormously since Downton Abbey. On Monday we had 300 people visit, they come by the coachload.”

The church has been used in the filming for the show’s weddings and funerals since the hit period drama was first screened in 2010.

Mrs Elward said the church is very special to her and is where she wants to be buried.

She said: “It means a lot to me, it’s where I’ve always gone. I can remember my first Sunday school teacher and teaching in the Sunday school there myself.

Mrs Elward taught at Bampton Primary School for many years, retiring at the age of 59.

She has two daughters, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Long-time friend Anne Harris, who runs the West Oxfordshire Steam & Vintage Fair which is sponsoring Mrs Elward’s challenge, said: “She’s one of those women who doesn’t seem to have a fear of anything.”

To donate to Mrs Elward’s fundraising flight, see justgiving.com/Vera-Elward