My interest in kites goes back to the 1950's.  As a schoolboy, I learnt to fly Indian fighter kites during the course of one wonderful summer school holidays. A police officer, stationed in Devonport, had lived in India, was importing kites, and taught the local kids how to fly them.  For a brief time Indian kites became the rage around my home and the sky above Forbes Street was the battlefield.


(click on images to enlarge)

 Like most childhood fads, kites made way for other interests, and it was almost 20 years later that I began again to cultivate my interest in kites.  I'm please to say that interest has stayed with me and developed into enthusiasm.



I have made all types of kites and in the first rush of enthusiasm one experiences when taking up a new hobby; I would see a kite in a book and have to make it.  The more unusual the kite was, the more I felt the need to make and try it out.  Needless to say, many of these kites were less than satisfying and I would discard them and discover another kite to make.



Now I like to make paper and bamboo kites.  I no longer feel the need to make large kites, as bigger is not better and some of my kites are very small.  I get as much satisfaction making a small kite as I do a large one.



Here are a few of the paper and bamboo kites I have made. As you can see, many are heavily influenced by Asian kites, particularly those beautiful creations that come from Japan.