Colin Wolstenholme interview

Colin Wolstenholme, a balloon pilot since 1974, shared his journey from his first balloon flight, inspired by a film, to his involvement in the ballooning community. He recounted his experiences with Cameron Balloons, Thunder and Colt, and Lindstrand Balloons, including designing and manufacturing balloon equipment.

Colin discussed his involvement in competition ballooning, special shapes, and gas ballooning, including the Gordon Bennett race. He also shared stories of his flights, including a dramatic landing in Derbyshire and a flight from the Isle of Man to Penrith. Colin's engineering background and his passion for vintage cars, particularly a Riley, were also highlighted.

Jennifer and Colin Wolstenholme discuss their connections to Northumberland, mentioning a pod of killer whales and the beauty of the area.

Jennifer introduces herself as the director of the British Balloon Museum and how pleased she is to interview Colin Wolstenholme.

Colin recounts his first experience with ballooning, inspired by a film called "Three Men in a Balloon," and how he and a friend, Adrian, wrote to balloon manufacturers to start their own ballooning journey.

First Balloon Purchase and Initial Flights
Colin explains how they ended up purchasing a balloon from Cameron Balloons after receiving a phone call from Western Balloons.

He describes their first flight experience, including the excitement of seeing a balloon take off and the technical challenges they faced.

Colin and his friend Adrian argue about which balloon size to buy on their way home, eventually deciding on a 65 - 2 person balloon.

They meet Robin Batchelor, who invites them to fly, but the balloon had no carabiners.

Early Ballooning Adventures and Learning Experiences
Colin recounts their first flight with Robin, which ends up in Alton Towers, and how they learn about the importance of having the right equipment.

He mentions Robin's design of a new balloon and how Adrian receives most of the instruction in ballooning.
Colin shares his engineering background and how it helped him understand the technical aspects of ballooning.

He discusses his relationship with Tom Donnelly and Dick Wirth from Cameron Balloons and how he started doing subcontract work for their burners.

Transition to Professional Ballooning and Competition
Colin talks about his family Engineering business and how it conflicted with his ballooning hobby.

He describes his transition to professional ballooning, including buying a new balloon and participating in competition meets.

Colin shares his experiences with competition ballooning and how it appealed to his competitive nature.
He mentions buying another balloon from London and starting to do competition meets, which led to his involvement in the ballooning community.

Commercial Ballooning and Special Shapes
Colin discusses his first commercial balloon, Motorway Tires, and how it led to his second commercial balloon, Bandag Tires.

He recounts a story about the MD of Bandag Tires visiting a balloon meet and offering him a contract, which he accepted despite it straining his relationship with Tom and Dick.

Colin shares his experiences with Bandag Tires, including buying a special shape balloon and attending various events.

He mentions his involvement with Flying Pictures and joining a select group of pilots, including Mr. Batchelor and Mr Ashpole.

Involvement with BBAC and Cameron Balloons
Colin talks about his role with the BBAC as a safety officer and inspector, and how he continues to do this work.

He describes his transition to working for Cameron Balloons and the unique dynamics of the sales team.
Colin shares his experiences with special shapes and how he became involved in the design and development of new balloon equipment.

He mentions his work with Flying Pictures and the exciting opportunities it brought, including working with Richard Branson.

Challenges and Incidents in Ballooning
Colin recounts a serious incident during a flight in Macclesfield, where they had to make multiple attempts to land and eventually had to deploy the rip line.

He shares a story about a flight in Sweden, where they had to land in a field with a barbed wire fence, which caused some complications.

Colin discusses his experiences with gas ballooning and how he bought a gas balloon with Tom Donnelly and Dave Sutcliffe.

He mentions his involvement in the Gordon Bennett race and the challenges of flying in different countries.

Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Colin reflects on his experiences with ballooning and the impact it has had on his life.

He shares his thoughts on the importance of having a good team and the excitement of flying in balloon meets.

Colin discusses his interest in vintage cars and how he renovated a Riley, which he has competed with for nearly 20 years.

He mentions the recent sale of his Riley and the challenges of maintaining his collection of vintage cars.

Final Thoughts and Anecdotes
Colin shares a story about flying from the Isle of Man and the challenges of landing in Penrith with a balloon covered in Vaseline.

He recounts his experiences flying the Channel with Flying Pictures and the excitement of flying with celebrities.

Colin discusses his involvement in various aviation events and his role as a guest speaker.

He reflects on his long career in ballooning and the many exciting adventures he has had.