Chris Bromham
Encyclopedia
Chris Bromham is a retired Welsh
stunt man. Bromham is the current World Record
holder of the motorbike jump obstacle record, having jumped over 18 double decker buses on 29 August 1983.
village of Skewen
, Bromham was educated at Coed Ffranc Infant and Junior School, and then Dwr-Y-Felin School. Having found his talent with motorbiks, he took a series of jobs while honing his skills, including delivery work at the Co-op and surface work with the National Coal Board
.
Evel Knievel
, Bromham found a talent for riding and jumping motorbikes, and trained himself part-time to became a stunt man. His first public performance was in 1977, performing at the Clovelly
Art Festival in Devon
, which lead to a dual career as both stunt man and show performer. His first major film appearance was in 1979's Riding High
, doubling for two characters in performing leaps and crashes.
In 1981, Bromham gained his first world record, jumping 28 cars at Swansea Airport
to achieve the world obstacle record, in a well publicised event attended by 30,000 people. During the winter of 1981, Bromham was offered a tour of New Zealand
. Following return to the UK in 1982, he planned his second world record attempt, where on 29 August 1983 at Bromley
, Kent
he broke two world record: the world distance record of 208 feet, and the world obstacle record of 18 double decker buses.
In 1984 Bromham worked on the Street Hawk bike after which he attempted another world record. Following its failure, he practised further and on 31 August 1986 secured two more World Records by jumping 20 lorries and extending the world distance record to 241 feet at the Royal Victoria Dock
, London
. Having been married to New Zealand
er Donna since 1977, Bromham undertook an 11month tour of the country in 1987. Bromham returned to the UK in 1988, and out-jumped Evil Knievel’s previous record when he cleared 14 single deck buses, which he performed in the guise of Cy-Clone, a robot
character devised by Bromham and Mike Young
, the creator of children's cartoon character SuperTed
.
On the 16th November 1988 Donna gave birth to their first Daughter, Natalie.
Over the next few years Chris continued to tour with his stunt show, which included a tour of the Isle of Man. A further record attempt fell foul of the weather and was rained off at Swansea Airport.
26th July 1991 brought the birth of their second daughter, Natasha.
In 1992 Chris’s highflying career was about to crash land when tragedy struck, but surprisingly it was not Chris that was the victim. They had just begun a tour of Scotland; the first show in New Deer had gone well and they moved on to Nairn near Inverness where Chris’s second show also went well. After the show the world collapsed. Donna was struck down by the Road Safety Officer in a bizarre accident and despite the efforts of the medical staff of Inverness’s Ragmore Hospital Donna died two days later on July 21st 1992, the day after Chris’ 35th birthday.
After her death at the Ragmore Hospital, Inverness
, Bromham retired from all work to concentrate on raising his two young daughters Natalie and Natasha Bromham and teenage son Shane Bromham.
The loss of his wife effectively put a stop to Chris’s career as he struggled to cope not only with her death but also with raising three children alone. Bromham re-launched his career on August 13, 1995 when he made an unsuccessful attempt over 21 lorries. His final jump was in 1997, when he successfully equalled his own world record and cleared 20 lorries.
On August 7th 1997 Chris and his fiancée Anna-Marie were married and remain close, loyal partners.
During a twenty year period Chris Bromham displayed an exceptional drive and determination, which has asserted him as one of the great motorbike jump riders of all time. He has undoubtedly left his mark in the record books and has never buckled, even in the face of tragedy.
Chris still owns a range of motor bikes but now prefers to keep his wheels on the ground, although deep inside there is still an undeniable urge to fly.
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
stunt man. Bromham is the current World Record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder of the motorbike jump obstacle record, having jumped over 18 double decker buses on 29 August 1983.
Biography
The youngest of seven born in the coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
village of Skewen
Skewen
Skewen is a village within the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, in Wales.The village is served by Skewen railway station.-History:Skewen was once an industrial village. There were a number of collieries around the village . The Crown and Mines Royal Copper Works and the Cheadle and Neath...
, Bromham was educated at Coed Ffranc Infant and Junior School, and then Dwr-Y-Felin School. Having found his talent with motorbiks, he took a series of jobs while honing his skills, including delivery work at the Co-op and surface work with the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
.
Career
Having been inspired by the 1970s exploits of AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
, Bromham found a talent for riding and jumping motorbikes, and trained himself part-time to became a stunt man. His first public performance was in 1977, performing at the Clovelly
Clovelly
Clovelly is a village in the Torridge district of Devon, England. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history and beauty, its extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys, and its location looking out over the Bristol Channel. Thick woods shelter it and render the climate so...
Art Festival in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, which lead to a dual career as both stunt man and show performer. His first major film appearance was in 1979's Riding High
Riding High
Riding High is a 1943 American film starring Dorothy Lamour and Dick Powell, made in Technicolor, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Sound Recording Riding High (also known as Melody Inn) is a 1943 American film starring Dorothy Lamour and Dick Powell,...
, doubling for two characters in performing leaps and crashes.
In 1981, Bromham gained his first world record, jumping 28 cars at Swansea Airport
Swansea Airport
Swansea Airport is an airport located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula west south-west of Swansea, Wales.-Operations:Swansea Airport has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee...
to achieve the world obstacle record, in a well publicised event attended by 30,000 people. During the winter of 1981, Bromham was offered a tour of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Following return to the UK in 1982, he planned his second world record attempt, where on 29 August 1983 at Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
he broke two world record: the world distance record of 208 feet, and the world obstacle record of 18 double decker buses.
In 1984 Bromham worked on the Street Hawk bike after which he attempted another world record. Following its failure, he practised further and on 31 August 1986 secured two more World Records by jumping 20 lorries and extending the world distance record to 241 feet at the Royal Victoria Dock
Royal Victoria Dock
The Royal Victoria Dock is the largest of three docks in the Royal Docks of east London, now part of the redeveloped Docklands.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Having been married to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
er Donna since 1977, Bromham undertook an 11month tour of the country in 1987. Bromham returned to the UK in 1988, and out-jumped Evil Knievel’s previous record when he cleared 14 single deck buses, which he performed in the guise of Cy-Clone, a robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
character devised by Bromham and Mike Young
Mike Young (producer)
Michael "Mike" Young , is a Welsh born, US domiciled, Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning animation producer, he is founder of two animation companies in both UK and US. Young is the current COO of MoonScoop.-Biography:...
, the creator of children's cartoon character SuperTed
SuperTed
SuperTed is a Welsh teddy bear who has magical super powers. He along with his friend Spotty try to do good. SuperTed was a series of stories created by Mike Young who eventually created a television series based on those stories.-Creation:...
.
On the 16th November 1988 Donna gave birth to their first Daughter, Natalie.
Over the next few years Chris continued to tour with his stunt show, which included a tour of the Isle of Man. A further record attempt fell foul of the weather and was rained off at Swansea Airport.
26th July 1991 brought the birth of their second daughter, Natasha.
In 1992 Chris’s highflying career was about to crash land when tragedy struck, but surprisingly it was not Chris that was the victim. They had just begun a tour of Scotland; the first show in New Deer had gone well and they moved on to Nairn near Inverness where Chris’s second show also went well. After the show the world collapsed. Donna was struck down by the Road Safety Officer in a bizarre accident and despite the efforts of the medical staff of Inverness’s Ragmore Hospital Donna died two days later on July 21st 1992, the day after Chris’ 35th birthday.
After her death at the Ragmore Hospital, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Bromham retired from all work to concentrate on raising his two young daughters Natalie and Natasha Bromham and teenage son Shane Bromham.
The loss of his wife effectively put a stop to Chris’s career as he struggled to cope not only with her death but also with raising three children alone. Bromham re-launched his career on August 13, 1995 when he made an unsuccessful attempt over 21 lorries. His final jump was in 1997, when he successfully equalled his own world record and cleared 20 lorries.
On August 7th 1997 Chris and his fiancée Anna-Marie were married and remain close, loyal partners.
During a twenty year period Chris Bromham displayed an exceptional drive and determination, which has asserted him as one of the great motorbike jump riders of all time. He has undoubtedly left his mark in the record books and has never buckled, even in the face of tragedy.
Chris still owns a range of motor bikes but now prefers to keep his wheels on the ground, although deep inside there is still an undeniable urge to fly.
Personal life
Following his 1981 tour, Bromham met his first wife Donna. Married on 8 August 1983, the couple have two daughters, Natasha and Natalie, who joined Chris's son Shane. Donna was killed in a car accident on 19 July 1992. Bromham married his current wife Anna-Marie on August 7, 1997; the family live in SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
.