My first engagement of 2008 was an invitation to attend the re-launch of the British Balloon Museum and Library (BBM&L) in the West Berkshire Museum on the evening of Friday 4 January. Edwina Cooper, the Mayoress and I arrived at the museum to find it packed with people who had come and see the refurbished exhibition of balloon memorabilia displayed on the first floor.
There was a collapsed balloon canopy from which was hung a full sized basket and a balloon without a basket which would take a single person up. I was unsure how far this would travel but I assumed for as long the person could keep it inflated and presumably in the right direction. The balloonist must have been very skilful to bring it down without him (or her) breaking a leg. There was other memorabilia on display which we found fascinating. We spoke with Jenni d’Alton who was a dedicated balloonist as was her husband Richard. He is the Chairman of the BBM&L and they have been ballooning for the last 30 years. We also had a long conversation from a pilot who had just returned from Thailand on a ballooning event. We gathered that some go over onto the continent to take part in events over there.
Most of the balloonists there were taking part in the annual Icicle event which would be launched from the Savernake Forest in 2 days time. I suspect that it would be very cold up there and for once I was glad I was not taking part.
The exhibition is well worth a visit and I would thoroughly recommend it.
There was a collapsed balloon canopy from which was hung a full sized basket and a balloon without a basket which would take a single person up. I was unsure how far this would travel but I assumed for as long the person could keep it inflated and presumably in the right direction. The balloonist must have been very skilful to bring it down without him (or her) breaking a leg. There was other memorabilia on display which we found fascinating. We spoke with Jenni d’Alton who was a dedicated balloonist as was her husband Richard. He is the Chairman of the BBM&L and they have been ballooning for the last 30 years. We also had a long conversation from a pilot who had just returned from Thailand on a ballooning event. We gathered that some go over onto the continent to take part in events over there.
Most of the balloonists there were taking part in the annual Icicle event which would be launched from the Savernake Forest in 2 days time. I suspect that it would be very cold up there and for once I was glad I was not taking part.
The exhibition is well worth a visit and I would thoroughly recommend it.
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