Colin Bell was born in East Molesey, not far from Hampton Court Palace, in March 1921, the son of a senior civil servant. At the age of four, his father took him to watch Lindbergh's arrival in Croydon. When war broke out, he immediately volunteered for the RAF but was turned away on the grounds of his age. After his experience flying a Mosquito he was demobbed and subsequently became a Chartered Surveyor, retiring in 2019, at the age of 98. Today he is an active supporter of several Veteran groups, including the RAF Benevolent Fund and is well known for his talks on his wartime service. He has made several podcasts for WE HAVE WAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK, continues to drive, to travel and to be active on social media.