Pensioner rides into record books - 100 ways

Edwin Shackleton, 82, hasn’t seen much of his old wooden bike lately after ditching it for a place in the record books. Since January the RAF veteran has taken a ride in 100 different modes of transport and has his sights set on another 40.

He has sailed in a catamaran, a lifeboat and a sand yacht; flown in a microlight, executive jet and glider and hitched lifts in a bin lorry, fire engine and police car. This week he made his 100th journey, which was by hot-air balloon.

“It’s a great feeling to finally get to the 100 mark. I thought I could do it within a year, but I never dreamt I’d do it as soon as July,” said Mr Shackleton.



“I reckon I should be able to get up to about 140. It’s surprising the wide variety of transport there is when you start to go into it.”

Now retired, Mr Shackleton worked as a structural engineer and is already listed in Guinness World Records after flying 861 different aircraft during the 1970s. He is now planning more journeys, including rides on a Russian T-55 tank and in the three-wheeled Robin Reliant from Only Fools and Horses.

He said: “There were some things that got cancelled because of the weather. I’m particularly keen to fly in an amphibious Cessna 208 that’s near Glasgow, and I also want to go on a steam-propelled bus in Whitby.”