Events

Karl, his wife Sara and fellow Hereford-based kite builder Peter Taylor (www.airdynamics.co.uk) are sponsors and organisers of the Herefordshire Kite Festival held at The National Trust, Berrington Hall, the third weekend in July (www.kitefestival.org.uk).

Karl and Sara's first event of 2012 was an Indoor Kite Event they organised at St Joseph's Catholic College in Swindon on Sunday 15th January 2012.
Already this year they have received invitations to kite festivals in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, France and Italy; they have to decide which they can accept and which they cannot manage this year.

In 2011 Karl and Sara went to kite festivals in Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, France, Norway, Northern Ireland, Canada, USA, East Malaysia and South Africa. They visited Singapore too making a total of eleven countries in four continents.

Wedding of the Year, May 2011.

Their Daughter's Wedding, photo by Matt Longbottom

It is not every day your only daughter gets married, this will be one of the most memorable events ever for Karl and Sara. However, never missing an opportunity, they did add to the occasion by way of a static display of banners as seen in Bristol, Dieppe France and Berck sur Mer.

Kite Night, Bedwelty Show, Blackwood. August 2010.

A very Wet Friday at Blackwood near Caerphilly, photo by Dave Nicholl

This has to be the most memorable event of 2010.
Karl and Sara flew kites in four different continents within twelve months in all sorts of climates and locations but this event will always be remembered. The rain was never ending but the support received from fellow kitefliers who continued to perform in the truest manner of 'the show must go on' was tremendous. Their thanks go to AWITA, Ralf Maserski and Family, The Flying Squad, The Airheads, The Grumpy Old Gits, The Beatties, George, Steve, Dazzz, Dave H, Dave N (with camera), Bob, Mike and finally Ceri and Jan for the never ending hot drinks.

Cape Town, October 2009.

Sara with the local children in Khayelitsha

Cape Town Kite Festival is organised by Cape Mental Health and two days before the main festival we flew our kites for the local children in Khayelitsha.

Bristol, September 2008.

Launching the Blue Peter Kites

Karl was asked by the BBC Blue Peter team to design a shield shaped kite that could be flown on its own or as a stack of fifty. Here he is being helped by the presenters Joel, Helen and Andy.

The 50 Blue Peter kites flying

The idea of 50 kites was to help celebrate 50 years of the programme.

Mangalore, January 2008

Crowds at the Mangalore Festival

There were so many people on the beach at Mangalore, it was difficult to see the sand.

Gallery Exhibitions

Karls's kites have featured in a number of exhibitions.

Brunel Centre, Swindon. December 2006

Angels, photo by Carl Robertshaw

Angel Kites by Karl Longbottom, Angel Sculpture by Carl Robertshaw.

Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe

Kites by Karl Longbottom, Franchesca Caton, Carl Robertshaw and Michael Goddard.

Hereford

Hereford exhibition