AN OKEHAMPTON kite manufacturer is celebrating 100 years flying high in business. Brookite is the oldest continuously operating kite manufacturer in the UK, and probably in Europe, and even played an instrumental role in enabling radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi to make the first transatlantic radio transmission. Brookite was founded in 1907 by entrepreneurial brothers Tommy and Walter Brooke who, like everyone else at the time, were swept along in the raging enthusiasm for aviation and all things flight related. Today the business is run from a former mill at Brightley by Nick and Mandy Harrison who are using the theme of flight to mark Brookite's centenary year. Mandy said: 'The Brookite centenary is a wonderful opportunity to thank our loyal customers and distributors. 'We decided to theme our celebrations and our promotional stand at the International Toy Fair this month by looking at our achievements alongside some of the great milestones in aviation history that have happened throughout Brookite's long existence.' Brookite has enjoyed an interesting history and to mark the centenary the firm has published a booklet charting the development of the kite and the business over the last 100 years. It was a Brookite kite which took an aerial aloft from SS Mafalda in the South Atlantic Ocean, enabling scientist Marconi to send the first ever transatlantic radio message in March, 1910. Later that same year, the revolutionary technology was used to help in the capture of the notorious wife murderer Dr Crippen as he fled the UK by sea. Crippen was the first killer to be caught, tried and hanged because of radio. Although primarily made for fun and enjoyment, during the second world war the firm's kites were used for military purposes such as target practices, as anti-aircraft devices and military markers. After more than 70 years in London, the firm switched its manufacturing to Okehampton in 1979, a far better location for test flying new designs. Mandy Harrison added: 'The design of kites and the materials that are used to make them have changed enormously, and over the last decade power and sport kiting has emerged alongside the pure pleasure kite fliers and taking its place in the surfing and skate-boarding cultures, opening new and exciting markets for us. 'The very reason for the company's longevity has been the ability to adapt to changing trends and to be constantly innovative with new designs, new shapes, new techniques and evermore challenging flying techniques.' Waiting in the wings to take the company on into the 21st century are Mandy and Nick's sons, James, 28 and William, 24. Nick Harrison said: 'Brookite has always been a family business. My grandfather took over the company from the Brooke brothers in the early 1940s and my family has run it ever since.'