AN entrepreneur who left a booming family restaurant business is finally fulfilling his dreams of being an inventor – all thanks to falling from a tree and breaking his leg.

Eighteen months ago, Ian Lilley, 58, from Altrincham, was down on his luck, having recently divorced and seeing his latest business venture collapse.

Prior to this, Ian lived a comfortable life, with his family running high-class restaurants such as Est Est Est and Piccolino.

But, unfulfilled, Ian left the industry and launched a number of business ventures.

However, these failed to flourish and Ian was soon at an all-time low, with finances continuing to dwindle.

To make matters worse, the father-of-three broke his leg playing hide and seek with his children in the woods and ended up in a hospital bed.

But, with time on his hands, an idea for a new business sprung to mind – Pitstop.

Ian has always possessed the spirit of an inventor, with plans for his first creation – a phone for the people with hearing difficulties – drawn up aged 13.

After his fall, Ian decided to launch a service checking tyre pressure and carrying out safety checks in supermarket car parks and the scheme was picked up by Tesco.

It was piloted in Altrincham but failed to gain traction so was dropped by the supermarket giant.

The day after he called a stop to Pitstop, newly unemployed Ian was walking through Navigation Park when he was approached by a stranger asking if he would be interested in joining a yet to be formed Friends Of group.

He attended the inaugural meeting and saw another opportunity on the horizon – an idea which was to turn into Superbin.

Superbin’s Tool Box consists of a large covered litter bin, locked toolbox containing equipment for organised and impromptu voluntary litter picks and advertising frames.

And this time, his scheme was a success.

Keep Britain Tidy endorsed the product and substantial projects across the country, from Doncaster to Barking, are underway.

He also had an unprecedented idea for a Defibrillator Superbin – a solar-powered defib contained inside a park bin.

After eighteen months of hard work and determination, Ian launched his latest invention – the innovative defibrillator – at the Keep Britain Tidy Network and awards conference at the Hilton Hotel in Leeds last month. 

“You can make a living out of stocks and shares and someone, somewhere is losing out,” said Ian.

“But I have created a business that will be saving lives, something that will leave a legacy and invented something no-one else in the world has done, with nothing in the bank.”

Ian’s invention has been mooted as the next big thing by ambulance services across the country and he is on the cusp of playing a huge role in a proposed government initiative.

MP Maria Caulfield’s office at the House of Commons contacted Ian recently to ask about the company’s potential ability to cater for 10,000 defibrillators in relation to the Defibrillators (availability) bill 2016/2017.

Ian is now helping to put together a proposal, should the bill be passed.

The bill was introduced to parliament in November 2016 under the Ten Minute Rule and would “require the provision of defibrillators in education establishments, and in leisure, sports and certain other public facilities."

“I thought it was April 1,” said Ian.

“Now I would also welcome support from my local MPs and to speak with potential sponsors, like Apple.”

To find out more about Superbin, contact Ian on 0777 444 7177, email ian@superbin.co.uk, or visit superbin.co.uk. You can also find Ian on Twitter, @TheDefib.