These pages are dedicated to the memory of Dr Alexander Wilson (Later Regius Professor of Astronomy) of Glasgow University and his student, Thomas Melvill, for their pioneering work, in 1749, on the use of kites as an aerial platform for scientific research.

See also kite aerial photography pioneers Arthur Batut and George Lawrence.

Honorary Member

James Gentles

Website  Galleries  Innovation  Photographic Service

James has provided an inspirational lead in the low-level aerial photography of West Lothian and has demonstrated excellence and innovation in the field of kite aerial photography.

Secretary

Rosie Wells 

Armadale

rosiewestlothianarchaeology.org.uk

Kite aerial photography, genealogy, archival research and administration

Rosie started her working life in advertising and public relations and ended her career as a teacher.  Her first degree was from Warwick University and her postgraduate teaching qualification from Oxford University.

Group Archaeologist

Jim Knowles 

Torphichen

jimwestlothianarchaeology.org.uk

Archaeology, geophysics and kite aerial photography

Jim's first degree was in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Bradford. After university, he undertook a postgraduate degree in computing to further his knowledge in computational programming.

His career within archaeology, so far, has been wide and varied. He has undertaken all aspects of archaeological field work across many different areas, from prehistoric to battlefield archaeology. His career became channelled towards field and geophysical survey. In addition to his role as a field archaeologist, he became part of a small survey team to digitally record buildings and archaeological sites. Modern (GPS and Laser Scanner) and traditional equipment (EDM) was used to record features or buildings. The information would then be processed to create plans or models of the geospatial data using dedicated software. Jim has a specialist knowledge of archaeological prospection including the use of magnetic, earth resistance, ground penetrating radar and chemical methods to detect and identify archaeological areas of interest. He also has a specialist interest in scientific analysis (including chemical and metallurgical) and specialist computer use, including 3D modelling, database manipulation, spatial information use and programming. 

John Wells 

Armadale

johnwestlothianarchaeology.org.uk

Kite aerial photography and genealogy

John studied physics at Warwick University, which included 'industrial experience' working at the Medical Research Council's Environmental Radiation Research Unit in the Medical Physics Department of Leeds University at Leeds Infirmary and the MRC Film Badge Service. After graduating, he went to Salford University to do an MSc in health physics, followed by a brief period as a teacher of mathematics, before going to Oxford University (CCC) to do doctoral research at The Churchill Hospital Research Institute and in the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology. He then moved to Gloucestershire, where he worked, until retirement, at Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories, in the Radiobiology Laboratory of the Health Physics Research Section. His work included supporting the research efforts of university hospital biomedical groups.

Group Illustrator

Heidi Walker

Gloucestershire

Illustration and kite aerial photography

After preliminary courses at The Slade and Stroud Art School, Heidi graduated with a first class honours degree in Illustration (with John Hullah Award) from the University of the West of England. She completed her studies with a Masters in Sequential Design / Illustration at Brighton University. Heidi works as an illustrator.

Cade Wells

Machine vision and emerging technologies

Cade's first degree was an MEng in Computer Systems Engineering from Bangor, Wales. His EngD was awarded jointly by the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and Heriot Watt for his work on machine vision.