Great-granny Etta Colville is preparing to take the plunge for the biggest challenge of her life.

The 68-year-old from Kirkcaldy will throw herself into a tank full of nurse sharks at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry at 4pm tomorrow to raise money for the WRVS.

The event, organised by WRVS cluster manager Alyson Hutton to celebrate the charity’s 70th birthday, will be a huge achievement for Etta, who until a couple of years ago hardly had the confidence to leave her house.

She and her husband Harry spent many years working in social care in both the public and voluntary sectors and helped children, young people and women at risk of physical and sexual abuse.

But working on the edge of society in both Fife and Surrey took its toll. An increasingly violent working environment, culminating in a confrontation involving a firearm, saw Etta suffer a heart attack in 2004.

She retired and moved back to Fife to be nearer her family but, due to her health, was forced to take it easy and the enforced inactivity got her down.

She lost confidence and slid into depression, never going out and not even bothering to get dressed.

Etta’s family turned to the WRVS in a bid to rekindle the vital spark they knew still existed within.

She began working a few shifts in the tea bar at Forth Park Hospital, Kirkcaldy, and within a year was project assistant and is now a project co-ordinator at the town’s Victoria Hospital.

Her confidence has flooded back and she wanted to help out when Alyson suggested they find a way to help the charity.

“I’d be daft not to be a bit nervous at my age but WRVS has done so much for me, I wanted to give something back,” said Etta.

Etta still needs regular heart and blood pressure checks but she is confident about the dive.

“I have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

“Do you think after what I’ve been through I’ll let some wee fish stand between me and seeing the weans grow up? Not on your life,” she said.