Clare goes skydiving

First of all who are you and where do you come from?

Okay my name is Ian Chapman and I own the business "original Lizard" I'm originally from Brough and I Settled back here in Hull when I left the army in '92.

Why Original Lizard? (as apposed to Copied Chameleon or something!)

Well that was the most difficult part of setting up the business actually thinking up a name. The original Skydiving kit that I first started designing was made from old parachutes. The parachute fabric is green and lightweight and is similar to second skin. As Lizards shed their skins (this happens to be green and thin) Original Lizard seemed appropriate. I wasn't sure about it to start with and I've thought of loads since but loads of people have commented on it so I'm happy.

For those of us who are stupid, please explain roughly what skydiving involves.

Skydiving involves hurling yourself out of a perfectly servicable aeroplane with a couple of parachutes strapped to your back.The minimum height to jump varies but is usually about 2000 to 2500 feet. I started jumping when I was in the army. Then did 3 - 4 years general jumping. Then I became a qualified instructor. I now have my own Skydiving teaching and Coaching school called Air cooled Adventures.

Where do you go to do your stuff?

I go to skydive in Brigg but I'm freelance so I go everywhere. I also enter Speed Skydiving competitions and am the fastest man in England at an average of 286.56 mph (as apposed to the average fall at 120 mph).

Any accidents you've had or know about?

Yeah, I've known people to be killed when they havn't landed properly. There are more people killed under a parachute than there are through their parachutes not opening. Thats the idea of training though. You are taught how to land safely and how to cope with bad situations.

At this point we pause to watch a video that Ian and a few friends recently made throwing themselves off cliffs in Norway. After I comment that they are very close to the cliff as they fall he happily tells me if you don't manouver away correctly you will hit the face within 5 seconds (I now fight the urge to run screaming from the madman and instead change the subject to clothing).

What kind of clothes do you make?

We make Skydiving suits and trousers - the Military love clothes that can be made from old parachutes. Fleecy hats,jumpers and have even been known to make fleecy underwear. We're happy to make anything and everything.

I am told that you make all the clothes yourselves. Who exactly is yourselves?

Myself and my wife Jane do EVERYTHING (this is easy to believe,there are bits of fleece thread and equipment everywhere) She does all the cutting out and admin and I do all the sewing. It really is a family business even our mothers come in and do their bit (stocktaking and stuff like that).

Which item takes the longest or is the most awkward to make?

Jumpsuits take 6 - 7 hours to make. Some of the more interesting hats take a long time to make like the mowhawk. Basically the more fiddly bits the longer it takes to make.

Do you actually wear the clothing?

YES YES YES YES YES

Your home is your Factory/office So do we just knock on your front door if we want anything?

Well, no. We do most of our sales via mail order. We also go to craft fairs and have a stall every Sunday at the Granary Wharf (under the Railway Station arches). We also sell clothes through selected shops. We've always been lucky really. A friend went on holiday to centre-parcs and went into the clothing shop wearing one of our hats. The man in the shop asked where it was from and there we go, another big order!

Would you recommend that I try skydiving then? (wearing your clothing - obviousley) If so where do I get started?

Hell Yes, definatley try it. Just get it touch with your local parachuting centre. From there you will be taught everything. Your first jump will probably end up costing you about £185/195 but any after that will only cost about £30. So GO you have no exuses now !

Thank you Ian (Somehow don't think I'll bother though!) Illustrations & Photos by Mike Farmer