One of life's winners - reporter Ashley Loveridge hops in the hot tub with a flamboyant entrepreneur (From Stroud News and Journal)

One of life's winners - reporter Ashley Loveridge hops in the hot tub with a flamboyant entrepreneur

FROM implementing the very first electrical wiring for holiday camp founder Billy Butlin to blowing the whistle on Manchester United football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, millionaire businessman, football club owner and charity worker Colin Gardner has had a varied life.

Reporter Ashley Loveridge and photographer Mark Watkins visited Colin at his Minchinhampton Common home and were in for a bit of a surprise.

"BRING your swimming trunks," were the first words uttered by flamboyant entrepreneur Colin Gardner when arranging our meeting.

I wasn't totally sure what I was going to find as I arrived with more than a slight tinge of trepidation.

Nonetheless, I eventually found Colin in the garden of his picturesque Minchinhampton home proudly floating in his latest gadget.

Appearing as bonnie as a child opening Christmas presents on Christmas morning Colin was splashing around in his impressive high - tech hot tub.

Somewhat nervously with pen and paper I stepped across his frosty December morning lawn and joined him in the bubbles.

Colin is certainly larger than life. He's a man who has suffered his fair share of knocks but retains a passion for helping others.

"I once told the local vicar that my grave stone should read ''he put more into life then he took out - I haven't got time to die',"

He has a busy never ending schedule. Our interview was constantly interupted by the high pitched ringing tones of both his mobile an landline phones which sometimes rang in perfect harmony.

"It is like this all the time," admitted Colin. "Later today I'm holding a Christmas party for the old folk in Gloucester at Gloucester City football club of which I am chairman."

His love of football found Colin reach the highest echelons of refereeing officiating in high profile matches involving the likes of Manchester United during the 1970's.

"I actually refereed Gloucester City before I had any affinity with them. I even gave them a penalty which they missed and lost 1-0," Colin recalled.

The man is most definitely a leader. "I enjoy organising," said Colin.

"I enjoy life and if I can help people to enjoy their life I will do so in any way possible."

The son of a train driver and the mother of a shirt maker Colin was born in Taunton in 1941.

"We were a poor family and only went on holiday once every four years but my younger brother and I had a fantastic childhood."

Despite admitting to not being the brightest spark at School, Colin began an apprenticeship in electrical engineering - a wise move that certainly turned him from rags to riches and culminated in him selling Gardner Security in 1999 for £2million.

"If you have a yellow security box on the side of your house the likelihood is that it is one of mine," said Colin.

His entrepreneural skills came to the forefront courtesy of a yellow mug.

"I gave out yellow Gardner security mugs to my customers. The mugs advertised our pound a day service," said Colin.

"For £32 a month I used to install a burglar alarm system and offer 24 hour all year round cover. The idea made Gardner Security -I was soon was bringing in £7,000 a month."

Despite possessing a sharp business brain Colin also showed a compassionate side offering a man in a van service to offer free home help to anyone with special needs.

With life and the Gardner empire running perfectly Colin thought he had it all but was hit with a hammer blow in 1988 when he lost his first wife Rose to breast cancer.

"This was the worst moment in my life," he said. "We were given 18 months to sort things out but it was tough."

"Many people who have lost their life partners will appreciate the horrible feeling of coming home to an empty house.

But I thank my secretary who filled my appointment book to the brim enabling me to lose myself in work."

The loss of Rose inspired Colin, who has ten grandchildren to go into charity work in almost the same obsessive way that he pursued his business career.

"Over 11 years we have managed to raise three quarters of a million pounds for various charities across the county." And Colin was to get a second chance at love.

"I actually met my future wife Clare more that 20 years ago. We passed each other each day in the car and I always spotted her because she was wearing a nurse's uniform."

However it wasn't until many years later that their paths crossed.

"I certainly believe in fate," admitted Colin.

"We met by chance. I went to a job which one of my engineers was suppose to got to. The client was Clare and we got on like a house on fire. We have now been married for six years."

Colin could be described as somewhat of a minor local celebrity himself these days with his high profile presence.

And over the years he has met many famous people. He remembers being slightly star struck at 21 when he met Billy Butlin.

"My early claim to fame was meeting Billy at his Minehead holiday camp while I was wiring out his chalets."

"But over the the years especially at charity events I have rubbed shoulders with a host of stars from Prince Michael of Kent to former England footballer Trevor Brooking," he said.

Now entering the twilight years Colin modestly admits that his millionaire status is somewhat untrue.

"I'm a millionaire who has spent his money on property."

"I own a number of holiday bungalows in Cornwall which keeps me busy and with a £400,000 debt to work off at the football club my energy is utilised to the maximum," he said.

And he is still living life to the full. That epitaph about not having time to die will hopefully have to wait some time.