When I was nine years old, a small airship advertising Mazda flew over my school, and in that brief lunchtime moment, a lifelong obsession was born. That little blue ship sparked a fascination with airships that never left me – even during years when my books gathered dust. While I built a career in public transport, working in railway operations, and later served as a Member of the London Assembly, airships remained a constant presence in my life. Eventually, I launched Up Ship! The Airship History Podcast, delivered an Editor's Pick TEDx Talk about their disappearance from the skies, and immersed myself more deeply than ever in their remarkable history. I'm now writing a book that tells their colourful, chaotic and often overlooked story.

In 2024, following a bowel cancer diagnosis, I was reminded of the importance of focusing on what I love most. That renewed sense of purpose led me to join Straightline Aviation as Communications Manager – a company pioneering the return of airships to our skies. In a poetic twist, the CEO had once run the firm behind the very airship that flew over my school all those years ago. What began as a childhood moment of wonder has become a life’s mission: to champion airships, preserve their legacy and help shape their future.