TUI pilot revives childhood passion for building huge snowmen

Luke Riding first created a giant snowman when he was a 14-year-old schoolboy.

Back in 2009, his proud aunt was so impressed, she sent this picture to the paper and it was published in the Knutsford Guardian.

Luke Riding build this giant snowman when he was 14 (Image: Jan Christensen)

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The then teenager had managed to perch a huge frozen sculpture on a bench in the garden of his parent’s home in Holmes Chapel.

Roll on 12 years and, Luke, 26 and working as a commercial airline pilot, brought the snowman back.

This time with the help of his two-year-old son Theo.

Luke Riding built this giant snowman with son Theo in 2021 (Image: Jan Christensen)

As soon as the snow hit the ground this week, Luke, now 29, made another giant snowman.

This time he captured the magical moment with a helping hand from his three-year-old son Archie.

Luke Riding rebuilds his giant snowman with son Archie (Image: Jan Christensen)

His aunt Jan Christensen, of Knutsford, said: ”It just makes me laugh that he’s just a big kid that can’t resist building snowmen!

“He sent me a picture saying: ‘I’ve done it again!’ “It makes me giggle, it’s so lovely.

“He flies hundreds of people abroad on holiday yet he is an absolute child.

“He managed to clear the whole garden of every bit of snow to make the giant snowman.”

Luke, a first officer with TUI, lives with wife Clare and sons Theo and Archie in Poynton.

His dad Peter is a captain and long haul pilot with British Airways.

Jan said: “Luke was overjoyed when he was 14 and saw his snowman in The Guardian.

“We had all been really impressed by the way he managed to get it so proportioned.

“Luke enjoys the snow more than his children. He took them to school on sledges.

“Perhaps his sons might follow in their dad’s and grandad’s footsteps and become pilots.”