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PROFILE |
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My
interest in kites began over 30 years ago when I was passionately
involved with another wind related sport, land yachting. I was always trying to think of some way of passing time
while waiting for sufficient winds to sail and then whilst on
holiday to the West Coast of America I took a trip to San Francisco
and saw adults flying some wonderful kites above Fisherman's
Wharf.
This triggered something off and on
my return home I made my first kite! I then had to find a remote
spot where I could fly my creation 'unseen'! I drove to the Yorkshire
Moors - made sure no one was watching - and surrounded only by
sheep I launched my kite. Happily it flew first time, if it had
not I would have missed out on all the enjoyment and pleasure
that kite flying has given me over the years.
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As
an adult without any children at that time, my friends and work
colleagues thought me rather strange playing with a piece of
paper and a length of string. They were like most people in England
and Europe who see a kite and think of it as a children’s
toy. Thinking I was alone I set out to educate and share my joy
of kite flying with as many people as I could.
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Flying a Parafoil on the Great Wall of
China
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From
those early days kites have been a big part of my life and in
pursuing my hobby over the years I have participated in kite festivals
in many exotic places, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand,
Singapore, Bali, Iceland, USA, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Germany,
France, Belguim,
Canary Islands. (I
married my beautiful wife Jeanette at a kite festival in
Hawaii) Throughout my travels I have met
many wonderful people, some of whom have become very good friends.
I am lucky to have had so many magical experiences which have
left me with unforgettable memories.
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After
participating in kite festivals in Japan and China I fell in
love with the Orient, its people and their beautiful kites. Whilst
on my travels I have managed to accumulate one of the Worlds
largest collections of Oriental kites many
of which have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout
England and have always attracted a lot of interest. Most of
my kites have a wonderful memory attached to them, a kite maker,
a kite festival, a place, a hangover, etc. etc.
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Hammamatsu Kite Festival (Japan)
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Friendship Kite
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Christened
"The Kiteman" by local children, I have been responsible
for introducing many thousands of people to the joys of kite
flying by giving kite displays, teaching kite workshops, organising
kite festivals and helping to form kite clubs. In my spare time
I can be found in schools, art centres etc. teaching the art of kite making.
At kite festivals I am not adverse to running along with a pair
of pink
pyjamas flying behind me, or flying
my pink pig, my five-metre friendship kite, my
100-metre Chinese
dragon kite or trying my skills
with
Japanese fighting kites. |
I have
been involved in many radio and
TV programmes on kite making and for the last 14 years I have
been kite adviser to the City of Sunderland Council and together
we are responsible for organising one of Europe largest kite
festivals. The Washington/Sunderland International Kite Festival which regularly attracts over 70,000 spectators
and kite fliers from all parts of the world. Over the years I
have organised many kite festivals, kite displays and workshops
in Great Britain and abroad.
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Sunderland International Kite Festival
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