Published: June 24, 2009
Record-breaking pensioner visits Burnham-On-Sea

A record-breaking pensioner who has flown in virtually every type of aircraft made a visit to Burnham-On-Sea this week.

Edwin Shackleton, 82, has already appeared in ten editions of the Guinness Book of Records for his incredible total of 860 flights, which include light aeroplanes, airliners and military machines, as well as 59 helicopters and 31 gliders.

As a diversion, he is hoping to experience 100 types of travel during 2009 – land, sea and air – within the UK and on Sunday (June 21st) he increased his tally by three, to 97, in Burnham-On-Sea.

He said: "I got interested in planes when I was growing up in Ipswich in World War II."

"Since I was 16, I've flown as a passenger on 861 flights. I've been on Concorde, light aircraft, airliners, military planes, helicopters and gliders."

"There aren't many planes I haven't flown on. The highest number I did in a year was 41 in 1993, but last year and the year before that I only did about 10."

"I was wondering what I could do instead. Then I saw the TV programme By Any Means where Charlie Boorman went from Ireland to Australia using 100 different types of transport, so I decided to do the same!"

Burnham-On-Sea boat owner Rodney Southwell took Edwin for a sail in his sailing cruiser 'Walrus' on Sunday evening, and while he was at sea, Edwin was transferred onto the Bridgwater Pilot's Craft, which was actually checking navigation bouys at the time. Edwin was also given a ride in the Burnham-On-Sea Lifeboat Station hi-tech soft-track launching tractor.

Edwin is pictured (top) in the cockpit of Walrus with lifeboat crewman Kevin Barber; and (beneath) at the controls of the lifeboat tractor under the watchful eye of driver Alan Higgs