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By Rob McQuattie, June 13, 2013 12:16 pm

When Thomas Hard proposed to his girlfriend Carla Greensill in May on a hot air balloon ride over Wales, he was more than a little relieved when she said yes.

He had been trying to pop the question since March, keeping the ring a secret as well as his special plans to take Carla up into the skies for a Virgin Balloon ride.

A couple of balloon rides were cancelled due to bad weather, but on a beautiful clear evening on May 25, he told Carla, 27, a teaching assistant in Newport, they were going for a drive.

Instead he whisked her away in a balloon ride over Raglan in the Vale of Usk, south Wales.

“She had no idea about the balloon ride or the proposal,” Thomas, 29, said.

“The plan had been to do it in March so I have been psyching myself up for a while but she had no idea.

“The pilot poured out some champagne and then I asked her.

“I said ‘There’s another reason why I’ve brought you up here.’

“First of all she would not let me speak because she saw me pull a box out and then she gave me a big hug and kiss and said yes.”

The couple, who live in Cwmbran and have a seven-month-old daughter called Isla Hard, couldn’t keep the exciting news secret for very long.

“Mark the pilot noticed first and said “I think we have an engagement over here” and everybody congratulated us and wanted to see the ring.”

Mr Hard, a sales engineer with Mabey Bridge, said he couldn’t have picked a more romantic backdrop for popping the question than a balloon ride in south Wales.

“It was a beautiful day with completely clear skies. Neither of us had been up in a balloon before so we were a bit nervous but once we were up there, it was breathtaking. “We saw a cider festival going on in Abergavenny and we could hear the music while we were up there because the air was so still.”

The couple, who plan to tie the knot next summer, hopefully at Caerphilly Castle, said

they still felt high in the clouds when they returned to earth.

“We landed in a field and the pilot took pictures of us and everyone congratulated us,” Thomas said.

“We then went round to see lots of family and friends.

“I just want to thank the pilot for an amazing experience and making it so special. Carla was really surprised and did not have a clue at all.”

Looking for a special way to pop the question? You too can take to the skies in a Virgin hot air balloon from as little as £99 per person, simply call 0844 844 8080 or visit our website.

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By Kirsty, April 8, 2013 9:59 am

It’s not uncommon to celebrate a birthday with balloons, but Jessica Bill celebrated her 24^th aboard a 100 foot tall hot air balloon floating 3000 feet up in the sky.

Jess and boyfriend of two years, Nick Crosby, 29, from Gamston, took to the skies from Stoke Rochford Hall, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in an iconic red Virgin balloon last week.

The sunrise voyage marked the achievement of a lifetime ambition for the couple, who bought the balloon ride vouchers for their first anniversary.

“We’ve both always wanted to go on a balloon flight. Everyone was great and really looked after us and, even though we met up at 6am on a freezing cold morning, they we really upbeat and fun. When we told them it was Jess’ birthday they all started singing happy birthday to her, the rest of the passengers joined in too,” said Nick.

Jess added: “My favourite bit was the views, they were amazing and something I’ll never forget. The champagne toast after we landed was great too.”

Travelling around eight miles to the east during the hour-long flight, the balloon landed land near Belvoir Castle before experienced pilot Martin Collinson presented Jess and Nick with their personalised flight certificates.

Martin, 46 from Grantham said “It was great to have Jessica and Nick on board, there’s something special about singing happy birthday in the open air over the countryside, it’s magical! After the snow we’ve had, a beautiful clear balloon ride was a special way to celebrate her day; I’m delighted they enjoyed it.”

The couple, who are due to be married in August next year, said they were now keen to experience another balloon ride as part of their honeymoon.

Balloon flights are available from sites across the UK including Nottingham from £99pp via www.virginballoonflights.co.uk or on 0844 844 8080.

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By Kirsty, April 5, 2013 10:57 am

Hot air ballooning is one of the world’s most romantic forms of aviation, especially when you fly over a heart-shaped lake set in beautiful British countryside like Lisa Barnett, of Shadwell, North Leeds, whose airborne adventure was much more than she could have wished for…

Floating up to 3000ft above the Yorkshire landscape with boyfriend of eight months, Greg Armstrong, Lisa looked out over the edge of the basket of the Virgin balloon she was travelling in, hoping Greg was enjoying the flight she’d bought him as a Christmas gift as much as she was. Their sunrise champagne balloon ride from the city’s famous racecourse certainly provided them with some fantastic views including the sea and the Humber Bridge on the horizon. But that was just the beginning…

 Lisa said: “The tranquility of the flight was breath-taking. As I turned around, Greg was on one knee and had secretly asked a fellow passenger to capture the event on camera, how wonderful that the lady agreed and she was herself a photographer; the morning could not have been better! Whilst she was unbeknownst to me snapping away, Greg popped the question. I was so shocked that I cried. I of course wanted to say yes, but I was so overwhelmed, that after composing myself & a few cuddles I said I’d be honoured to marry him.”

With the seal of approval from Lisa’s father a few weeks before 39-year-old Greg, who works in IT solutions, happily put the ‘stand-in’ ring on Lisa’s finger whilst the rest of the passengers congratulated them.

Lisa, a National brand manager, went on to say: “We couldn’t believe we flew over a heart-shaped lake too – I was convinced this was in Greg’s itinerary, but the pilot Dave obviously knows the area well, mother nature was clearly on our side as she blew our balloon in that direction!”

The couple who plan to tie the knot late summer or early autumn this year came back down to solid ground and shared a Champagne toast with the rest of the passengers before the ground crew presented them with a keepsake balloon made from the Champagne cork and clasp.

Following the excitement of their magical hot air balloon ride the couple visited Elements in Hebden Bridge where they began work with master jeweller Dawn on the design of the ‘real’ engagement ring. Later the couple sipped more Champagne with their families at a celebratory party organised by Lisa’s sister.

Lisa, 40, added: “A massive thanks to pilot Dave Sutcliffe and the rest of the team for the kind gift, photos & champagne, plus the amazing passengers on the flight that made our morning so special. Everyone individually congratulated us after the flight, so thank you everyone who made our balloon trip so memorable. We would highly recommend a Virgin Balloon Flight to anyone.”

Looking for a special way to pop the question? You too can take to the skies in a Virgin hot air balloon from as little as £99 per person, simply call 0844 844 8080 or visit our website.

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By Kirsty, March 21, 2013 1:18 pm

The residents of Wrexham will be treated to the sight of a beautiful big red balloon on their skyline from April, with Virgin Balloon Flights launching from The Plassey Leisure Park in Eyton.

The huge 247 acre park and woodland is the picture perfect spot to start a north Wales airborne adventure and our lovely hot air balloon pilot Des Bimson will be taking passengers to the skies in his 16 man Virgin balloon.

Seeing the rolling hills of north Wales and the beautiful Cheshire plains of England is pretty spectacular from up to 5000ft above and we can’t wait to show our passengers the Dee Valley from this unique perspective.

Sarah Brookshaw, Director of the Plassey Leisure Park, said: “It’s great to be working with all the team at Virgin Balloon Flights and offering visitors a truly unique way to experience the fantastic views of the Dee Valley and beautiful surrounding countryside.”

Cameras at the ready for hot air balloon rides in Wrexham!

You too can experience the magic of ballooning from Wrexham, north Wales, from as little as £79pp, simply give us a call on 0844 8448070 or visit our website and we’ll be happy to help.

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By Kirsty, February 8, 2013 6:22 pm

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, what better time to announce another one of our brand new Virgin Balloon Flights launch sites for 2013, the renowned village of Gretna Green. Just over the Anglo-Scottish border, Gretna Green has been famous for runaway weddings since 1754 and now loved-up couples can enjoy one of the world’s most romantic forms of aviation there too; a hot air balloon ride with our lovely pilot Peter Philpot.

What better way to enjoy the Scottish countryside with a loved one than gliding through the air in an iconic Virgin red balloon watching the world turn below the basket?! Post flight find out why Gretna Green is so aluring to those in love, touch the famous anvil and see where starry-eyed couples exchange their vows. Maybe it’s your turn to tie the knot? After all a hot air balloon proposal is a the perfect way to pop the question in the clouds.

Give the gift of flight this Valentine’s Day and take to the skies from Gretna Green from as little as £115pp. You can make that romantic moment even more special with a ‘Love is in the air’ balloon in a box too.

Simply visit virginballoonflights.co.uk or call 0844 8448080.

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By Jade, December 5, 2012 3:10 pm

Christmas is now upon us and if you still haven’t thought of the perfect gift to show your loved ones how much you care, let us help you! A balloon ride is an amazing way to show your appreciation, whether its your other half, parents, brother, sister or even a special friend.

Flying in a hot air balloon is an extraordinary experience; both serene and thrilling, offering stunning views and a feeling of freedom. With the wind as your only guidance, it is a true adventure as you never know exactly where you’ll fly or what you’ll see. Making it easy for you to arrange, balloon flights are flexible in when and where they can be taken. Here at Virgin we operate the largest fleet of hot air balloons in the UK, flying seven days a week from over 100 launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales – giving you even more choice.

There are even more bonuses:

• You can organise it online in minutes so there’s no fight against the bustle of Christmas shoppers.
• All of our deliveries are FREE and sent first class.  We offer next day delivery (last order for Christmas 20th )
• Left it until last minute? We can send you an e-ticket that you will receive immediately, ensuring there won’t be any disappointment.

You can give the magical balloon ride itself or if you really want to spoil your loved one, add champagne, chocolates or our special hamper, prices starting from just £4. This Christmas we’re also offering special gift packages for one or two people that include your flight voucher and various extra gifts. You can choose from the Sunrise Christmas package, the Christmas gift package or the Luxury Christmas gift package – visit our website for more information.

For as little as £89, give them a unique experience they’ll be talking about for years to come!

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By Jade, October 16, 2012 3:43 pm

We recently had a special balloon flight with passengers Ron and Joan Barnby celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Fifty years together is an amazing achievement and what a brilliant way to celebrate, up in the air.

After meeting through work, the couple married in 1963 and out of 50 years of married life, the pair have been lucky enough to have spent the last 17 years retired together and enjoying life. As they are both very active and love doing things together, their son and daughter knew that a hot air balloon ride would be the perfect gift for their anniversary.

The couple live in Darlington in their house by the River Tees where they have lived for all their married life. Their flight launched not far from there, from Witton Castle, County Durham. The balloon took them over many familiar sites including their daughter’s house and Sedgefield racecourse. They both agreed that their favourite part of the flight was take off.

As we rose there was a wonderful shadow cast by the sun which we could see on the ground. When you looked down the shadow showed everyone’s head peeping out as the balloon moved across the landscape. We also loved the champagne at the end – a champagne toast in a field was something we’d never done before! It was lovely and fresh.

Ron added:

The pilot, Chris Oxby and his crew were marvellous. The ground crew were there to pick us up as soon as we landed. Chris was so pleasant and very informative. Throughout the flight we asked loads of questions about the altitude, the temperature and where we were flying over – he knew all the answers. The whole team are very skilful people. They were also so safety conscious which made us feel at ease. They truly did a first class job.

When we asked if they would do another balloon flight, they both said:

We’d definitely do it again! There were opportunities for us to fly over Harrogate which would be nice, but I think I’d still do another one local to us. Our daughter and her husband watched us take off and they were thrilled, jumping up and down and clapping as they saw her rise so they would love to do one too!

As well as their magical balloon experience, Ron and Joan celebrated their golden anniversary at the Kearton Country Hotel, Swaledale – the same place they had their silver wedding anniversary. It was a rare occasion where their whole family joined together to congratulate the couple on their anniversary. What a perfect way to celebrate such a special occasion! We’d like to wish you many more years of happiness together.

If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate or want to give someone that perfect gift, book a balloon flight now for as little as £89pp. Simply visit our website or call our office on 0844 844 8080.

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By Alex, August 21, 2012 3:22 pm

We had a fantastic first visit to V Festival at Hylands Park in Essex where we tethered a balloon at the weekend and what a scorcher it was!

Guests from the brilliant Virgin Media Louder Lounge enjoyed rides in the blazing sun and we rubbed shoulders with celebrities including actor Billy Piper, singer Sophie Ellis Bexter, actor Ralph Little and boy band One Direction, who were all at the event.

We also provided some additional entertainment for the crowd who could see our balloon from the main stage, bobbing away to music from the likes of Tom Jones and Snow Patrol. Our balloon looked particularly spectacular as it lit up in the dusky gloom.

It was a fantastic way to mark 25 years since Sir Richard Branson and co-pilot Per Lindstrand did the first transatlantic balloon flight – making Virgin synonymous with hot ballooning forevermore.

Thanks to everyone who flew with us, who tweeted us and the Virgin Media team who made us feel so welcome.

If you would like to experience a hot air balloon ride over Essex visit our website.

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By Jade, August 15, 2012 3:56 pm

Best friends Hayley Green and Jessica Tradewell experienced their first hot air balloon ride on a beautiful Saturday evening from our launch site at  York Racecourse.

The pair told us “We wanted to try fun & exciting things while we are still young and a balloon flight is something we’ve always wanted to do.” As part of their endeavour to try new experiences, Jessica bought Hayley a tandem skydive for her 21^st Birthday last year. In return, Hayley treated Jessica to a hot air balloon ride for her birthday this year. Hayley said “I wanted to buy something memorable for Jessica’s 21^st and chose Virgin as they are a well known company and reliable.”

When asked what their favourite part of the flight was, they told us “We loved it all. It was nice to just relax and take in the views of York whilst watching the animals in the fields.” A particular part of the flight that stuck in their minds was the beautiful colours in the sky with the sun shining through.

Hayley and Jessica praised the pilot Chris Oxby and his crew expressing that they were excellent and very friendly. “They got us involved in inflating and deflating the balloon. They answered any questions we had and made us feel very safe.”

They added “We loved every minute of it & would definitely recommend it to anyone considering it”. Eager to experience another flight, the pair said they would definitely go again but maybe from our Temple Newsam County Park launch site so they could see some different views from Leeds.

You too can enjoy a balloon flight over Yorkshire or any of our other 100+ launch sites for as little as £89pp. Just call us in the office on 0844 844 8080 or visit our website.