8:30am Friday 19th March 2010
By Joe Ware
Malmesbury is gearing up for a host of events to celebrate 1000 years since its most famous monk launched himself from the Abbey roof.
Eilmer, an 11th-century Benedictine monk, came to fame after strapping wings to his arms and legs and attempting man’s first recorded flight.
Eilmer allegedly travelled more than 600 feet before crashing to earth and breaking both his legs.
In his honour an international kite festival and other flight-related events are to be held throughout the year.
Some of the world’s best kite fliers will visit the town between July 31 and August 1 and a wingwalk by someone dressed as a monk is being discussed with Gloucestershire-based team Aerosuperbatics.
Schoolchildren will be able to take part in a paper aeroplane making competition and families are invited to a ‘make an Eilmer’ workshop after which the models will be launched from a tower.
Organisers also hope to publish a poetry book inspired by flight, there will a range of lectures from aviation experts and historians and an Eilmer exhibition in the Athelstan Museum.
A range of commemorative Eilmer merchandise will be on sale in the Tourist Information Centre with a logo designed by 17-year-old Ruth Ayers from Malmesbury School and flags are to be mounted in the High Street.
Mayor Catherine Doody said there would be something for everyone to enjoy.
She said: “It should be a really colourful experience and I hope everyone has a lot of fun remembering Eilmer.
“We got lucky with the kite festival because the former chairman of the British Kite Flying Association lives in the town and is helping to organise it.
“He’s flown kites all over Europe and has lots of experience.”
Andy Dawson from the Tourist Information Centre said: “We’re really looking forward to it all.
“It should raise the profile of Malmesbury locally, nationally and even internationally.”
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