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By Kirsty, August 27, 2011 11:00 am

A Staffordshire pensioner, who is no stranger to the limelight because of her famous name, helped a  top balloonist reach a major landmark by becoming his 10,000^th passenger.

Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Neal Parry celebrated the milestone with a party in the sky over the county during a Champagne balloon flight from Uttoxter Racecourse last week.

Lucky passengers wore party hats, let-off party poppers and tucked into a special Virgin balloon cake at several thousand feet to mark the occasion.

Neal’s official 10,000^th passenger was 70-year-old Bridget Jones, of Polesworth, who took the flight with 71-year-old friend Gerri Williams.

Ms Jones, dubbed the ‘real Bridget Jones’ by several national newspapers because she shares her name with Renée Zellweger’s character in the film of Helen Fielding’s hit novel, said these kind of things always seemed to happen to her.

“I can’t believe I am the 10’000^th person pilot Neal has flown. What an achievement for him and a claim to fame for me. It must be a continuation of the ‘Bridget Jones’ celebrity lifestyle,” she said.

“It was such a fantastic experience and my favourite part was following the meandering River Dove and seeing Sudbury Hall from the sky. The party was an excellent way to round up the wonderful flight.”

The Virgin balloon floated east from Uttoxeter for an hour and 20 minutes before landing around seven miles away in the village of Scropton.

Also on board was 38-year-old Virgin Atlantic pilot, First Officer Lucy Mildwater, from Dodsleigh, who said: “The experience was amazing. It surprised me how Neal landed something with no engine so perfectly in such a small area. The party made the flight very ‘Virgin’ and was great fun. I’ll certainly be looking to do another for my 40^th birthday.”

Mr Parry, who has been piloting balloons since 1993, took it up as a hobby and soon grew to love it. After passing his commercial pilot’s licence he didn’t look back and spent several years flying tourists over the Kenya’s Masai Mara before returning to fly in the UK.

“It’s so great to be able to deliver such satisfaction to people’s lives. It’s a great milestone to reach 10,000 passengers and I’m looking forward to the next 10,000,” he said.

To book a balloon flight with Neal from Uttoxeter Racecourse, Amerton Farm near Stafford or one of Virgin Balloon Flights’ other 100 UK locations visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212750.

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By Kirsty, August 26, 2011 4:08 pm

  A twelve-year-old girl, who has a a serious form of arthritis that can occur in children, has had her wish to fly in a hot air balloon granted over the Surrey countryside.

Kerry Bowden suffers with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and has always dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon, so Starlight Children’s Foundation asked Virgin Balloon Flights to help make her wish come true and Spencer Craze, the company’s Surrey pilot, made it happen.

Kerry, her parents Anne and David and brother Adam, jetted in from their home in Guernsey, for the flight which launched from Shalford Park in Guildford. After an hour in the air, Kerry and her family helped pack away the balloon before sipping Champagne or juice and receiving a personalised certificate signed by pilot Spencer and endorsed by Sir Richard Branson.

Anne said Kerry “has had to endure more pain that most people have to endure in their whole lifetime” and that the balloon flight was “a great family experience”.

After the airborne adventure, the family were treated to a tasty breakfast at restaurant Cote in Guildford with pilot Spencer. Kerry was also given a bag full of Virgin branded merchandise including a shoulder bag ‘up-cycled’ from a retired hot air balloon by sustainable fashion brand Worn Again,

Kerry described the experience as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and the best thing she had done.

Spencer, who regularly takes people on Champagne balloon flights from Guildford and Fernhurst, said: “The flight was fantastic, and it was great getting to know Kerry and her family.

“We flew out from Shalford at 7am in a southerly direction passing over Bramley and Dunsfold before landing just over an hour later in Plaistow. I’m really glad she enjoyed the flight,” he added.

For further information regarding Virgin hot air balloon rides in Surrey visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212750.

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By Alex, August 22, 2011 9:23 am

A Virgin hot air balloon has floated onto TV screens in the Ukraine after an unforgettable flight at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

A lovely film crew from Inter TV came ballooning over Bristol with us as they covered the world famous event earlier this month.

A spectacular mass launch from Ashton Court gave them some wonderful footage and they interviewed pilot Mark Simmons about life as a balloonist.

They were also treated to a sensational performance by UK Queen of Soul Beverley Knight during an exclusive airborne session for Virgin Red Room.

See the film on the Inter TV website here

Join us for your own balloon flight in Bristol

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By Kirsty, August 20, 2011 10:00 am

This week we’ve been to see our lovely Staffordshire launch site Uttoxeter Racecourse where Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Neal Parry who flies one of our big red 16-man balloons.

Set in the heart of central England amongst picturesque surroundings, Uttoxeter Racecourse has been home to the famous Midlands Grand National since 1969 and hosts a range of jump meetings all year round. The impressive open land space provides the perfect backdrop for a Virgin Balloon Flights launch.

We provide early morning and early evening flights from the racecourse on both weekdays and  weekends on selected dates throughout our flying season which is March to October.

From the basket and upstream of the racecourse, the River Dove’s stunning valley of Dovedale might be spotted meandering through the world famous Peak District National Park, or north west travel may show you the delights of the potteries made famous by Wedgewood, Royal Doulton and Spode from an entirely new perspective.

What’s more Virgin Balloon Flights are now in the process of getting valuable discount offers from Uttoxeter Racecourse so our passengers can go back to enjoy the two and a half furlong racecourse time and time again. Watch this space!

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By Eve, August 19, 2011 5:38 pm

Jeanie and Jackie from Mad About Bargains enjoyed a Sunday afternoon out of the ordinary at this year’s Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Over a quarter of a million people turned up on the Saturday evening to witness the spectacular ‘night glow’ and over half a million visitors 
attended overall!

After winning a competition the pair joined Virgin Balloon Flights at the event and as well a watching a breath-taking aerial display from the Red Arrows also got to meet our very own pilot ‘Nobby’ who flies from Ashton Court in Bristol regularly and explained how he became the UK’s youngest hot air balloon pilot at aged 19 back in… ooh we really couldn’t say. This year’s free Fiesta was the 33^rd annual event of its kind and the 34^th has already been scheduled for the 9^th – 12^th August for

next year!

With tons of entertainment from fairground rides to daredevil motorcycle stuntmen and women jumping over flaming hay bales, parachutists leaping from helicopters and of course amazing airborne antics from over 100 beautiful hot air balloons this really is an event like no other.

To celebrate 40 years of balloon making, Bristol based Cameron Balloons undertook the impressive challenge of building a hot air balloon during the duration of the Fiesta; 4 days! We thought this was an incredible achievement and what a lovely balloon it was too – we were there to see it being inflated for the very first time.

To fly from Ashton Court in Bristol with Virgin Balloon Flights or any of our 100+ launch sites throughout the UK visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 01952 212 750.

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By Kirsty, August 15, 2011 3:58 pm

Last week we blogged about our Warwickshire launch site Stratford–upon-Avon and the splendid scenery from the launch field of Stratford Racecourse.

As if by magic, our lovely pilot Des Bimson flew from the racecourse and caught the beauty of the bird’s eye view on his camera just days later. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to share these scenic snaps with you.

Des also shared with us his in-flight photographs from an Eastnor Castle launch this week too. This spectacular launch site sits at the foot of the Malverns (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in the historic town of Ledbury, Herefordshire.

You too can fly from Stratford Racecourse or Eastnor Castle from as little as £119 per person. Simply call or visit www.virginballoonflights.co.uk.

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By Eve, August 13, 2011 6:00 am

Our friends at Mad About Bargains are looking forward to a hot air ballooning extravaganza at this year’s 4-day Bristol International Balloon Fiesta after winning a Virgin Balloon Flights competition.

The balloon enthusiast’s dream opened its gates at midday on Thursday 11^th August 2011 and promises a wealth of fabulous ballooning events from mass balloon launches to the famous night glows to an exhilarating display from the spectacular Red Arrows.

Following in the footsteps of the UK’s Queen of Soul Beverley Knight who took to the skies in our balloon on the second day of the Fiesta to perform an aerial rendition of her latest track ‘Cuddly Toy’, Jeanie and Jackie from the popular family-run site are scheduled to launch into the skies above beautiful Ashton Court in Bristol in Sunday evening’s mass balloon ascent.

Friday morning saw 63 balloons simultaneously ascend and similarly Sunday’s flight promises to be a rainbow of colour and a truly unforgettable balloon ride for the bargain savvy pair.

We’re really looking forward to the flight and can’t wait to see the pink hairdo for real.

Cheers ladies!

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By Alex, August 12, 2011 5:23 pm

Virgin Balloon Flights hosted a sensational performance by British soul diva Beverley Knight in a hot air balloon during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Beverley’s session and interview were filmed for Virgin Red Room – Virgin.com’s online music show presented by Nissan Juke – and are now online to view here.

Her Virgin balloon took off with scores of other balloons from Bristol’s Ashton Court flew right across the city and landed an hour and twenty minutes later near Doynton, to the east.

Beverley performed forthcoming single Cuddly Toy, originally released by Roachford in 1988, from from her 7^th studio album ‘Soul UK’ produced by Grammy Award Winner Martin Terefe (James Morrison, Jason Mraz) and Future Cut (Beyonce, Lily Allen). Soul UK was released last month to widespread critical acclaim and was the week’s highest new entry on the UK album chart.

The album is a tribute to British artists who have influenced Beverley and features interpretations of songs by the likes of Soul II Soul, Omar and Jamiroqui.

During the flight Beverley described the ballooning experience to her followers on Twitter:

‘I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilling this is! @virginredroom virginballoons. Interview with @HenryOnAMission now. Xxxx’

‘Thank you @virginredroom @HenryOnAMission@VirginBalloons for making a dream come true! Xxxxx During the flight Beverley described the experience for her followers on Twitter.’

Back on the ground, Beverley said she had thoroughly enjoyed her visit to the fiesta and especially the balloon flight itself.

She said: “I enjoyed every minute of the flight and really didn’t want it to end. It was nothing like I thought it would be because I expected to hear the wind and for it to be bumpier, but it was smooth, silent and so clear up there. I would love to do it all again tomorrow,” she added.

“It was an amazing place to perform. When I was singing the sound just disappeared into the air, so you really had to listen and focus.

“Mark the pilot and the Virgin Balloon Flights crew were wonderful. They explained everything so lucidly that you always knew what was happening and we landed upright which was perfect.”

Virgin Balloon Flights pilot Mark Simmons, from nearby Melksham, is a regular participant at the famous balloon event.

He said: “Flying in the Bristol balloon fiesta is always fantastic and floating skywards at 1,000 feet with Beverley singing in the basket of our balloon was amazing. She’s an incredible performer and seemed to really enjoy the flight. It was an experience none of us will forget.”

To book a balloon flight over Bristol or beyond with Mark and the team visit the Virgin Balloon Flights website.

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By Kirsty, August 8, 2011 3:08 pm

We went to visit our lovely Stratford-upon-Avon launch site last month and saw just why this south Warwickshire start point for an airborne adventure is one not to miss. A balloon ride from Stratford Racecourse gives you a unique bird’s eye view of Shakespeare’s home town and a sky high tour of this typically English landscape.

The award winning course (2010 award for best small racecourse) which has hosted steeple chase since 1755 sits just to the west of the town centre and offers the perfect open space to start your voyage.

What’s more, if you book to fly from Stratford Racecourse you’ll get the opportunity to download a 2-4-1 race day voucher to return for four legged fun later in the year for half the price.

Treat someone special to a Virgin Balloon Flights voucher and take to the skies from Stratford Racecourse.