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Extracts from SCOOP June 2004 | <<Back

Chairman’s Message

Hello everybody.

First and foremost, I should like to welcome Terry Marsden to the role of Meet Coordinator. Terry has been our ATC Liaison Officer for many years, and we weren’t keeping him busy enough, so he stepped up to the volunteer bar, where we snapped his hand off!

I am currently in discussion with the BPG about establishing a Northern Outpost. There may be a small number of their envelopes adopted to live in the PRBA region. More details if and when available.

Hope to see you all in Thirsk, if you can’t come for it all, just pop in for a socialise instead. All arrangements as previous years, camping by the racecourse on the far side of the Squash courts, and access to the nearby Thirsk Athletic Club ("TAC") bar for briefings, etc.

If you are interested in old balloons, take a visit to "The early Years of Sport Ballooning" web site at: http://www.devnbave.com/ballooninghistory/, it’s a bit US-centric, but has lots of nice old photos.

Enjoy the rest of the season,

Phil.

Bits and Pieces

Introducing Terry Marsden our new meet coordinator

My first involvement with ballooning was back in the 80s when I help to recover Julian Knott when he landed just north of Humberside Airport after one of his record attempts, I took him back to the Airport so he could make a number of telephone calls (no mobile phones then) and then found him accommodation at the local pub.

My next involvement was in 1994 when Gordon Luck came to see me at Humberside Airport to see what arrangements with Air Traffic he would have to make to fly in the local area of which part of the "deal" was a flight
The flight took place on 27 May 1994 in his balloon G-BSGH "Reach for the Sky" from Humberside Airport landing at Brandy Wharf near the Cider Pub, after this flight I was hooked on ballooning.

I have done many hours flying in my aviation career from the Lightning to the Chipmunk and gliding in the military and from a micro light to the Boeing 747 in civil aviation but I found that the best way to fly was in a balloon.
I own G-BNZK a Thunder and Colt 77 which I hope to get back in the air again, I flew with Gordon Luck until he retired from ballooning I also did one instructor trip with Pete Dalby
I have since then been very interested in ballooning but for the last Five years have been working in Western Isles, which is not the place for ballooning.

I have been your ATC liaison Officer for a number of years and look after North Lincolnshire for your LOR Officer Chris Oxby and hope to serve you well as your Meet Coordinator.

Terry Marsden

Editorial

The Temple Newsam meet finally came around after what seemed to be a very long winter’s break. And not being used to late nights and early mornings yours truly certainly suffered for the start of the next week. We have Roger Marshall to thank for the write up of the goings-on here and at Driffield - another contender for the SCOOP prize.

In general it was an enjoyable weekend with the main lesson being learnt: don’t pitch your tent or park your car under a lime tree unless you want to have to clean off a sticky mess when you get home.
Then there was Driffield; a great committee meeting was had with Terry Marsden asking if he could be the meet coordinator. His offer was taken up instantly with a show of hands so we now only have two vacant posts to fill. Does anyone fancy becoming the training officer and be willing to teach the new members the tricks of the trade?

Finally my personal quest of 2004 to see the Churchill insurance company’s special shape Lindstrand dog balloon became a lot easier than I first thought. The trip to Llangollen or elsewhere was not necessary as the balloon was allocated a visit to the call centre staff in Stockton my home town so "Churchill" was inflated in a local park.
Churchill’s LBL 90 was also flown from Sedgefield on the following morning. This finished off the current fleet for my photograph library, unless someone knows differently.

Richard

Don’t forget this is your SCOOP so if you see any mistakes or want anything in it just say

Thirsk meet 9 / 11 July – the main PRBA event of the year.

The Thirsk meet will be the same as last year. Any questions, call Phil Traviss. The campsite is the same location on the far side of the racecourse. The usual sports club toilets; showers, clubhouse and bar should be available.

With presumed free flying on the Friday evening from the campsite followed by a pie and peas supper. This year we have a new pie supplier. The Saturday and Sunday flights and tethering will take place from the Sowerby flats show ground where the main events of the Thirsk festival are being held. The briefings will be Sat 06.00am and 18.00. Sun 06.00. With Maps at least 93,99 and 100. There will be on-site gas, some of which will be free.
Saturday evening will be the usual cook it yourself barbeque. Bring your own meat etc and a salad and jacket potatoes will be provided to go with it.

Lets try and make this meet as good as last year. There should be a number of prizes and awards. And the usual pilots bonuses and more if you book in early! Stop Press: Pilot Packs for first 10 teams to book.
SCOOP PRIZE
Hopefully this will become an annual award to promote contributions to the SCOOP by members.

The committee has agreed an award can be purchased each year, "this means you keep it" for the best judged contribution to the magazine.
Articles with about one side of A4 and if you want a photograph, which may be considered for the front cover.

The current editor of SCOOP obviously will not be in contention for the prize.

The award will probably be presented at the Brass Monkey so get writing, as you won’t know what the prize is until the presentation.

Dear Aerostationery customer
This is a short note to inform you that, due to a last minute chance to attend the World Championships in Australia, we will be closed from the 20th June to the 6th July. If you need any maps during that period, please order them as soon as possible.

Our apologies for the short notice.
Slightly further ahead, we will also be closed for the periods 27th July to 2nd August; 22nd to 29th August and 18th to 25th November.

Regards
Lindsay Muir

BALLOON / GLIDER FLIGHT SWAP MEET
September 24th 25th & 26th 2004
At The Wolds Gliding Club
The Airfield
Pocklington
Near York
East Yorkshire
O/S Map Ref No. SE 794 482
First Briefing in the Gliding Club house bar 18:00 Friday 24th
Saturday Navigational Tour of the Wolds (to a pub) (if the weathers lousy)
Saturday Night Barbeque + Glow (if anyones willing)
Camping and Caravaning on site

For Further details contact :- Malc Skilbeck
53 Fossway
Stamford Bridge
York
YO41 1DS
Tel 01759 371057
Mob 07813591449
Email mattthedog@compuserve.com

Meet entry form to be in next issue of SCOOP.

Earlier SCOOPS

Feb 2004

April 2004

Driffield Steam and vintage rally 14th / 15th August
The Driffield show ground is located just off the A614 in East Yorkshire. Access to the site is through the Main exhibitors’ gate, which is beside the Rugby club. From there you will be directed to the caravan steward who will supply you with a visiband and direct you to the allocated caravan/balloon area.

Camping: will be available on site from the Wednesday 2pm until midday Monday. This will be provided for us by the East Riding Engine Club. Or accommodation contact Bridlington tourist information office on 01262 673474.
Briefings: provisionally 06.00 18.00 Saturday and 06.00 on Sunday at the caravan site. With launching from the main ring. Any other times the overspill car park can be used.
A nightglow in the main arena will also be arranged for the crowds on the Saturday night with as many balloons as possible.

Gas will be subsidised.
Insurance: The organisers of the Steam Rally will require insurance documental proof.

Maps: 100,101,105,106 & 107.
Local Area flying Activity: SAR Helicopters based at RAF Leconfield. 369.65. Police helicopter Leven airfield 123.05. Humberside airport 119.120.

Entertainment: Free entrance to the Steam rally on 14th/15th, which includes steam engines, vintage tractors, organs etc. Auction sale Saturday morning Saturday evening road run through Driffield at 18.00, craft marquee, model exhibition.

Meet Reports

ON THE SATURDAY MORNING IT’S TRUE
FOUR BALLOONS SAILED OFF INTO THE BLUE
THEIR GOAL, EGGBROUGH STATION,
WHICH POWERS THE NATION
AIMING MARKERS DOWN COOLER NUMBER TWO.

MESSRS. BAREFORD AND PARRY ARE NEAR,
BUT WHILE FARRER AND REID DO APPEAR
SAYS THAT YOUNG IAN COMELY
"TEMPLE NEWSAM FEELS HOMELY
AND SO I’M NOT MOVING FROM HERE"

PILOTS RILEY AND SUCH AND THEIR TEAM
HAVE ASSEMBLED THE BPG’S CREAM
OF THE SHAPES FOLK ADORE
AND ALWAYS ASK TO SEE MORE
BUT TO TETHER THEM ISN’T A DREAM.

YOUNG BABY-BEL OPENS THE SCORE
BUT A HALF GALE PUTS HER ON THE FLOOR
THE WORLD IN A BOX
JUST STANDS THERE AND ROCKS
AND THE CROWD ARE CALLING FOR MORE

SO THE BOTTLE STEPS INTO THE RING
IT’S A TALL, SLIGHTLY UNGAINLY THING
IT’S GREEN, FULL OF WHISKY
AND EVER SO FRISKY
AND MONARCHS IT’S PRAISES DO SING

NOW SONIC, THE HEDGEHOG, APPEARS
ENCOURAGED BY YOUNG CHILDRENS CHEERS
HIS VELCRO RIPPERS ARE MANY
AND IF YOU MISS ANY
HE MAY NOT COME BACK DOWN FOR YEARS
THE LIGHT BULB IS MADE LIKE A LOOP
THE AIR’S FUNNELLED IN BY A SCOOP
SO IT STANDS UP QUITE PROUD
TAKES THE CHEERS OF THE CROWD
THEN GOES COLD AND DECENDS WITH A DROOP
IT’S NOW SIX O’CLOCK IN THE EVE
MESSRS. BAREFORD AND PARRY MUST LEAVE
BOTH TAKE OFF AT A PACE
TO A GOOD LANDING PLACE
THAT’S EASY TO FIND FOR’T RETRIEVE

NINE O’CLOCK AND IT’S TIME FOR THE GLOW
A FINE WAY TO FINISH THE SHOW
THERE ARE FANFARES AND CYMBALS
MUCH FLEXING OF GIMBALS
NO MORE GASSING ‘COS IT’S TIME TO GO

The above "masterpiece" from the quill of the poet Laurie Art, reflects on a typical day for the KC special shapes team….
Long hours and hard graft. Bet they’re glad to go back to work on a Monday
A seriously big thank you to all the team for a great weekend.

YORKSHIRE MAY FESTIVAL DRIFFIELD 30/31MAY OR, EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY.

Pennine Region was approached in late 2003 by Mr. Paul Burridge of Hull to see if we would be able to display some balloons at a charity event that he was planning for Spring 2004. He was so enthusiastic that he went to the launch field at Pickering Park during the Humber Bridge Meet to see us in action but I’m afraid we cheated on him and went to Pocklington! Not put off by the dirty tricks brigade Paul rang again…… several times. The committee agreed to give his request a try after first convincing Mr. Burridge not to title his event The Great Yorkshire Balloon Festival…thank you oh great and wise ones.

Knowing how you balloon owners hate to tether your own envelopes, Rita managed to enlist the help of the Balloon Preservation Group in Brighton for the loan of some "retired" envelopes. So far so good I hear you say, but Brighton is just a teeny weeny bit south of the Watford Gap so who’s going to get them to Driffield ? Re-enter Mr.Burridge with the offer "I’ve got a van, how big are these things?" Well there’s really nothing quite the same as an envelope bag is there? Especially when it holds a tired twenty year old 77 that has been sat on by several other big bags; phrases like "as big and as heavy as a washing machine" didn’t quite do justice to the enormously flat/thin pancakes that Paul had to try to fit into his van, not a large box van as we had expected, but his holiday camper van! Some pruning of the van’s interior followed and three envelopes duly arrived in East Yorkshire. Give that man a Blue Peter badge.

Now why is it that when you get a nice idea for a meet, everybody else all over the damned country does the same; no meets the week before at least four on the chosen date:- is Murphy an aeronaut as too? "Oh-no-no-no" "Shut up Churchill!"

So where are we to get the pilots from - we’re on Rix Petroleum’s patch, so Dave Allum is in, Phil Traviss needs a C of A, Dave’s going to be there so Phil’s in, Harry Stringer needs the same so he’s in, et voila the Pork Farms just fancy here so their on board. Not exactly a full deck of cards, but enough to shuffle and keep things moving "Oh-yes-yes-yes" "Shut up Churchill!"

Team’s arrived during Saturday and the afternoon was spent doing C of A’s on Boulevard, F’red and Lego, a local hostelry provided much needed replacement energy. "Get off my chops Churchill!"

Sunday was the first day of the event proper now titled The Yorkshire May Festival. The aim was to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care - lets pray we never need their help. Six o’clock briefing and three teams take off and head for Market Weighton and Holme on Spalding Moor. Good flights and no landowner problems, so far so good; but as we head back to Driffield it starts to rain. Opening time for the event is 11.00 when we are hoping to tether the BPG envelopes as the punters roll in, but the rain gets heavier and the tether is off and so are the visitors, where they are off to I don’t know but it’s not to Driffield. It must have been soul destroying for Paul Burridge but the show goes on……by 1400 the rain has relented, by 1500 the arena has been blown dry by a freshening breeze and we’re able to tether three envelopes, Greenpeace for Phil, Pork Farms for Steve and Mike and Pansy for Dave. Dave was renewing an old acquaintance, he flew as P.U.T. in Pansy 22 years ago when it was owned by Hugh Wright. Yours Truly got bushwhacked into doing a commentary, greatly helped by P.A man Richard who must have done his homework:- no questions like "Do you use sandbags?" "Oh-no-no-no" "Shut up Churchill!" Reports of thunderstorms to the west and dark clouds on that horizon lead us to an evening round the old campfire and we lose two of the teams to other commitments.

So it’s Monday, day two of the pack of cards shuffle, the sun’s shining and it’s flyable at 0600. Dave and P.U.T. Duncan fly off to Leconfield, "Oh no," Beverley’s Westwood Common, "no," Beverley Grammer School, "no," shut that dog up!…finally landing at a farm that uses Rix fuel, nice one son. A quick gallop back to Driffield, a hearty breakfast, refuel and pop Rix up again in time for the grand opening, today done by BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson who takes a tethered hop with Dave as the sun pours down and thankfully the crowds pour in.

Our final contribution was to be another tether mid-afternoon, but with an increasingly frisky wind this was reduced to a C of A on Harry Stringers fourteen year old first envelope. He tells me it hasn’t seen any light for six years. Harry’s biggest worry was the embarrassment if the envelope collapsed into a heap of mildew, or if a herd of fat mice emerged on opening the bag. As insurance against the mice we had the falconer on standby with his owl, but the kit passed the test and the owl went hungry. We retired shattered!

We just managed to cut and shuffle the pack enough to cover all we were asked to do and sincere thanks must go to Paul Burridge for his dogged persistance and for his journeys south, to C.D.Bramall for providing the gas, to Paul’s team for catering, and a special thank you to Dave Allum for his C of A’s, tethers, and flights. Asked if he was doing any of the tasks his reply was truly Churchillian,"Oh-yes-yes-yes!"

Roger Marshall

On the right is an extract from the Teesside Evening Gazette. It is the reporter’s write up of Churchill’s visit to Stockton, it probably should be titled DOG MESS!! On the far right is really what happened as said by Churchill himself.

DOGGONE IT! FAMILIES ARE BLOWN AWAY BY BALLOON
The biggest dog in the world was let off its lead to drop in on a Teesside park.
Churchill: Oh no! I was roped to a big Discovery

The 150ft tall hot air balloon of Churchill, the nodding dog made famous by the
Insurance company’s TV advertisement, hovered above Preston Park.
Churchill: Oh no1 I stayed on the ground.

Park visitors were gob smacked when the bulldog’s familiar image took
Shape as crewmembers took more than an hour to inflate it.
Churchill: Oh may be!

The public was then invited to enjoy a free ride.
Churchill: Oh no-no-no they were not!

The balloon took off from London in the early hours before making the journey
North and setting down in Preston Park.
Churchill: Oh no-no-no! I did not.

Mike Quinton, managing director of Churchill Insurance said: " The balloon is
awesome and planning its first public flight has created a great deal of excitement
throughout the business. Churchill has a unique culture and this project shows we are
up for something a bit different. The balloon is a great way of introducing our business to
many different people across the UK".
Onlookers gasped in amazement and queued up for a ride on the office block size balloon. Churchill: Oh no! they didn’t.

And one mum said: "We only came to Butterfly World and we’ve ended up staying for hours to see this balloon.
We won’t be going up in it though.
Churchill: Oh no-no-no you were not invited.

The reporter then rambled on about the Churchill call centre and where the balloon was going next.
Churchill’s last words: Oh dear-oh dear-oh dear.

Please contact Rita for your Pennine,
Stickers, patches, metal badges.
AND THE
25TH Anniversary Booklet
BALLOONING THE PENNINE WAY
(above).
After discussions it was decided to issue the 25th Anniversary Booklet free of charge to all 2003 PRBA members and to issue a complimentary copy to all those past members who sent in contributions.

Free copies are being sent out separately from the Scoop and will be with you in the next few days.

Price £3.00 (inc.p&p) for extra copies and non-members.
Send orders and cheques, made payable to PRBA, to:
Mrs R Marshall, 7 Wynford Rise, Leeds, LS16 6HX.

Extracts from SCOOP		June 2004 \| <<Back

Chairman’s Message Hello everybody. First and foremost, I should like to welcome Terry Marsden to the role of Meet Coordinator. Terry has been our ATC Liaison Officer for many years, and we weren’t keeping him busy enough, so he stepped up to the volunteer bar, where we snapped his hand off! I am currently in discussion with the BPG about establishing a Northern Outpost. There may be a small number of their envelopes adopted to live in the PRBA region. More details if and when available. Hope to see you all in Thirsk, if you can’t come for it all, just pop in for a socialise instead. All arrangements as previous years, camping by the racecourse on the far side of the Squash courts, and access to the nearby Thirsk Athletic Club ("TAC") bar for briefings, etc. If you are interested in old balloons, take a visit to "The early Years of Sport Ballooning" web site at: http://www.devnbave.com/ballooninghistory/, it’s a bit US-centric, but has lots of nice old photos. Enjoy the rest of the season, Phil. Bits and Pieces Introducing Terry Marsden our new meet coordinator My first involvement with ballooning was back in the 80s when I help to recover Julian Knott when he landed just north of Humberside Airport after one of his record attempts, I took him back to the Airport so he could make a number of telephone calls (no mobile phones then) and then found him accommodation at the local pub. My next involvement was in 1994 when Gordon Luck came to see me at Humberside Airport to see what arrangements with Air Traffic he would have to make to fly in the local area of which part of the "deal" was a flight The flight took place on 27 May 1994 in his balloon G-BSGH "Reach for the Sky" from Humberside Airport landing at Brandy Wharf near the Cider Pub, after this flight I was hooked on ballooning. I have done many hours flying in my aviation career from the Lightning to the Chipmunk and gliding in the military and from a micro light to the Boeing 747 in civil aviation but I found that the best way to fly was in a balloon. I own G-BNZK a Thunder and Colt 77 which I hope to get back in the air again, I flew with Gordon Luck until he retired from ballooning I also did one instructor trip with Pete Dalby I have since then been very interested in ballooning but for the last Five years have been working in Western Isles, which is not the place for ballooning. I have been your ATC liaison Officer for a number of years and look after North Lincolnshire for your LOR Officer Chris Oxby and hope to serve you well as your Meet Coordinator. Terry Marsden	Editorial The Temple Newsam meet finally came around after what seemed to be a very long winter’s break. And not being used to late nights and early mornings yours truly certainly suffered for the start of the next week. We have Roger Marshall to thank for the write up of the goings-on here and at Driffield - another contender for the SCOOP prize. In general it was an enjoyable weekend with the main lesson being learnt: don’t pitch your tent or park your car under a lime tree unless you want to have to clean off a sticky mess when you get home. Then there was Driffield; a great committee meeting was had with Terry Marsden asking if he could be the meet coordinator. His offer was taken up instantly with a show of hands so we now only have two vacant posts to fill. Does anyone fancy becoming the training officer and be willing to teach the new members the tricks of the trade? Finally my personal quest of 2004 to see the Churchill insurance company’s special shape Lindstrand dog balloon became a lot easier than I first thought. The trip to Llangollen or elsewhere was not necessary as the balloon was allocated a visit to the call centre staff in Stockton my home town so "Churchill" was inflated in a local park. Churchill’s LBL 90 was also flown from Sedgefield on the following morning. This finished off the current fleet for my photograph library, unless someone knows differently. Richard Don’t forget this is your SCOOP so if you see any mistakes or want anything in it just say Thirsk meet 9 / 11 July – the main PRBA event of the year. The Thirsk meet will be the same as last year. Any questions, call Phil Traviss. The campsite is the same location on the far side of the racecourse. The usual sports club toilets; showers, clubhouse and bar should be available. With presumed free flying on the Friday evening from the campsite followed by a pie and peas supper. This year we have a new pie supplier. The Saturday and Sunday flights and tethering will take place from the Sowerby flats show ground where the main events of the Thirsk festival are being held. The briefings will be Sat 06.00am and 18.00. Sun 06.00. With Maps at least 93,99 and 100. There will be on-site gas, some of which will be free. Saturday evening will be the usual cook it yourself barbeque. Bring your own meat etc and a salad and jacket potatoes will be provided to go with it. Lets try and make this meet as good as last year. There should be a number of prizes and awards. And the usual pilots bonuses and more if you book in early! Stop Press: Pilot Packs for first 10 teams to book.	SCOOP PRIZE Hopefully this will become an annual award to promote contributions to the SCOOP by members. The committee has agreed an award can be purchased each year, "this means you keep it" for the best judged contribution to the magazine. Articles with about one side of A4 and if you want a photograph, which may be considered for the front cover. The current editor of SCOOP obviously will not be in contention for the prize. The award will probably be presented at the Brass Monkey so get writing, as you won’t know what the prize is until the presentation. Dear Aerostationery customer This is a short note to inform you that, due to a last minute chance to attend the World Championships in Australia, we will be closed from the 20th June to the 6th July. If you need any maps during that period, please order them as soon as possible. Our apologies for the short notice. Slightly further ahead, we will also be closed for the periods 27th July to 2nd August; 22nd to 29th August and 18th to 25th November. Regards Lindsay Muir BALLOON / GLIDER FLIGHT SWAP MEET September 24th 25th & 26th 2004 At The Wolds Gliding Club The Airfield Pocklington Near York East Yorkshire O/S Map Ref No. SE 794 482 First Briefing in the Gliding Club house bar 18:00 Friday 24th Saturday Navigational Tour of the Wolds (to a pub) (if the weathers lousy) Saturday Night Barbeque + Glow (if anyones willing) Camping and Caravaning on site For Further details contact :- Malc Skilbeck 53 Fossway Stamford Bridge York YO41 1DS Tel 01759 371057 Mob 07813591449 Email mattthedog@compuserve.com Meet entry form to be in next issue of SCOOP.
		Earlier SCOOPS Feb 2004 April 2004
Driffield Steam and vintage rally 14th / 15th August The Driffield show ground is located just off the A614 in East Yorkshire. Access to the site is through the Main exhibitors’ gate, which is beside the Rugby club. From there you will be directed to the caravan steward who will supply you with a visiband and direct you to the allocated caravan/balloon area. Camping: will be available on site from the Wednesday 2pm until midday Monday. This will be provided for us by the East Riding Engine Club. Or accommodation contact Bridlington tourist information office on 01262 673474. Briefings: provisionally 06.00 18.00 Saturday and 06.00 on Sunday at the caravan site. With launching from the main ring. Any other times the overspill car park can be used. A nightglow in the main arena will also be arranged for the crowds on the Saturday night with as many balloons as possible. Gas will be subsidised. Insurance: The organisers of the Steam Rally will require insurance documental proof. Maps: 100,101,105,106 & 107. Local Area flying Activity: SAR Helicopters based at RAF Leconfield. 369.65. Police helicopter Leven airfield 123.05. Humberside airport 119.120. Entertainment: Free entrance to the Steam rally on 14th/15th, which includes steam engines, vintage tractors, organs etc. Auction sale Saturday morning Saturday evening road run through Driffield at 18.00, craft marquee, model exhibition.
Meet Reports
	ON THE SATURDAY MORNING IT’S TRUE FOUR BALLOONS SAILED OFF INTO THE BLUE THEIR GOAL, EGGBROUGH STATION, WHICH POWERS THE NATION AIMING MARKERS DOWN COOLER NUMBER TWO. MESSRS. BAREFORD AND PARRY ARE NEAR, BUT WHILE FARRER AND REID DO APPEAR SAYS THAT YOUNG IAN COMELY "TEMPLE NEWSAM FEELS HOMELY AND SO I’M NOT MOVING FROM HERE" PILOTS RILEY AND SUCH AND THEIR TEAM HAVE ASSEMBLED THE BPG’S CREAM OF THE SHAPES FOLK ADORE AND ALWAYS ASK TO SEE MORE BUT TO TETHER THEM ISN’T A DREAM. YOUNG BABY-BEL OPENS THE SCORE BUT A HALF GALE PUTS HER ON THE FLOOR THE WORLD IN A BOX JUST STANDS THERE AND ROCKS AND THE CROWD ARE CALLING FOR MORE SO THE BOTTLE STEPS INTO THE RING IT’S A TALL, SLIGHTLY UNGAINLY THING IT’S GREEN, FULL OF WHISKY AND EVER SO FRISKY AND MONARCHS IT’S PRAISES DO SING NOW SONIC, THE HEDGEHOG, APPEARS ENCOURAGED BY YOUNG CHILDRENS CHEERS HIS VELCRO RIPPERS ARE MANY AND IF YOU MISS ANY HE MAY NOT COME BACK DOWN FOR YEARS	THE LIGHT BULB IS MADE LIKE A LOOP THE AIR’S FUNNELLED IN BY A SCOOP SO IT STANDS UP QUITE PROUD TAKES THE CHEERS OF THE CROWD THEN GOES COLD AND DECENDS WITH A DROOP IT’S NOW SIX O’CLOCK IN THE EVE MESSRS. BAREFORD AND PARRY MUST LEAVE BOTH TAKE OFF AT A PACE TO A GOOD LANDING PLACE THAT’S EASY TO FIND FOR’T RETRIEVE NINE O’CLOCK AND IT’S TIME FOR THE GLOW A FINE WAY TO FINISH THE SHOW THERE ARE FANFARES AND CYMBALS MUCH FLEXING OF GIMBALS NO MORE GASSING ‘COS IT’S TIME TO GO The above "masterpiece" from the quill of the poet Laurie Art, reflects on a typical day for the KC special shapes team…. Long hours and hard graft. Bet they’re glad to go back to work on a Monday A seriously big thank you to all the team for a great weekend.
YORKSHIRE MAY FESTIVAL DRIFFIELD 30/31MAY OR, EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY. Pennine Region was approached in late 2003 by Mr. Paul Burridge of Hull to see if we would be able to display some balloons at a charity event that he was planning for Spring 2004. He was so enthusiastic that he went to the launch field at Pickering Park during the Humber Bridge Meet to see us in action but I’m afraid we cheated on him and went to Pocklington! Not put off by the dirty tricks brigade Paul rang again…… several times. The committee agreed to give his request a try after first convincing Mr. Burridge not to title his event The Great Yorkshire Balloon Festival…thank you oh great and wise ones. Knowing how you balloon owners hate to tether your own envelopes, Rita managed to enlist the help of the Balloon Preservation Group in Brighton for the loan of some "retired" envelopes. So far so good I hear you say, but Brighton is just a teeny weeny bit south of the Watford Gap so who’s going to get them to Driffield ? Re-enter Mr.Burridge with the offer "I’ve got a van, how big are these things?" Well there’s really nothing quite the same as an envelope bag is there? Especially when it holds a tired twenty year old 77 that has been sat on by several other big bags; phrases like "as big and as heavy as a washing machine" didn’t quite do justice to the enormously flat/thin pancakes that Paul had to try to fit into his van, not a large box van as we had expected, but his holiday camper van! Some pruning of the van’s interior followed and three envelopes duly arrived in East Yorkshire. Give that man a Blue Peter badge. Now why is it that when you get a nice idea for a meet, everybody else all over the damned country does the same; no meets the week before at least four on the chosen date:- is Murphy an aeronaut as too? "Oh-no-no-no" "Shut up Churchill!" So where are we to get the pilots from - we’re on Rix Petroleum’s patch, so Dave Allum is in, Phil Traviss needs a C of A, Dave’s going to be there so Phil’s in, Harry Stringer needs the same so he’s in, et voila the Pork Farms just fancy here so their on board. Not exactly a full deck of cards, but enough to shuffle and keep things moving "Oh-yes-yes-yes" "Shut up Churchill!" Team’s arrived during Saturday and the afternoon was spent doing C of A’s on Boulevard, F’red and Lego, a local hostelry provided much needed replacement energy. "Get off my chops Churchill!" Sunday was the first day of the event proper now titled The Yorkshire May Festival. The aim was to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care - lets pray we never need their help. Six o’clock briefing and three teams take off and head for Market Weighton and Holme on Spalding Moor. Good flights and no landowner problems, so far so good; but as we head back to Driffield it starts to rain. Opening time for the event is 11.00 when we are hoping to tether the BPG envelopes as the punters roll in, but the rain gets heavier and the tether is off and so are the visitors, where they are off to I don’t know but it’s not to Driffield. It must have been soul destroying for Paul Burridge but the show goes on……by 1400 the rain has relented, by 1500 the arena has been blown dry by a freshening breeze and we’re able to tether three envelopes, Greenpeace for Phil, Pork Farms for Steve and Mike and Pansy for Dave. Dave was renewing an old acquaintance, he flew as P.U.T. in Pansy 22 years ago when it was owned by Hugh Wright. Yours Truly got bushwhacked into doing a commentary, greatly helped by P.A man Richard who must have done his homework:- no questions like "Do you use sandbags?" "Oh-no-no-no" "Shut up Churchill!" Reports of thunderstorms to the west and dark clouds on that horizon lead us to an evening round the old campfire and we lose two of the teams to other commitments. So it’s Monday, day two of the pack of cards shuffle, the sun’s shining and it’s flyable at 0600. Dave and P.U.T. Duncan fly off to Leconfield, "Oh no," Beverley’s Westwood Common, "no," Beverley Grammer School, "no," shut that dog up!…finally landing at a farm that uses Rix fuel, nice one son. A quick gallop back to Driffield, a hearty breakfast, refuel and pop Rix up again in time for the grand opening, today done by BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson who takes a tethered hop with Dave as the sun pours down and thankfully the crowds pour in. Our final contribution was to be another tether mid-afternoon, but with an increasingly frisky wind this was reduced to a C of A on Harry Stringers fourteen year old first envelope. He tells me it hasn’t seen any light for six years. Harry’s biggest worry was the embarrassment if the envelope collapsed into a heap of mildew, or if a herd of fat mice emerged on opening the bag. As insurance against the mice we had the falconer on standby with his owl, but the kit passed the test and the owl went hungry. We retired shattered! We just managed to cut and shuffle the pack enough to cover all we were asked to do and sincere thanks must go to Paul Burridge for his dogged persistance and for his journeys south, to C.D.Bramall for providing the gas, to Paul’s team for catering, and a special thank you to Dave Allum for his C of A’s, tethers, and flights. Asked if he was doing any of the tasks his reply was truly Churchillian,"Oh-yes-yes-yes!" Roger Marshall
On the right is an extract from the Teesside Evening Gazette. It is the reporter’s write up of Churchill’s visit to Stockton, it probably should be titled DOG MESS!! On the far right is really what happened as said by Churchill himself.	DOGGONE IT! FAMILIES ARE BLOWN AWAY BY BALLOON The biggest dog in the world was let off its lead to drop in on a Teesside park.	Churchill: Oh no! I was roped to a big Discovery
	The 150ft tall hot air balloon of Churchill, the nodding dog made famous by the Insurance company’s TV advertisement, hovered above Preston Park.	Churchill: Oh no1 I stayed on the ground.
	Park visitors were gob smacked when the bulldog’s familiar image took Shape as crewmembers took more than an hour to inflate it.	Churchill: Oh may be!
	The public was then invited to enjoy a free ride.	Churchill: Oh no-no-no they were not!
	The balloon took off from London in the early hours before making the journey North and setting down in Preston Park.	Churchill: Oh no-no-no! I did not.
	Mike Quinton, managing director of Churchill Insurance said: " The balloon is awesome and planning its first public flight has created a great deal of excitement throughout the business. Churchill has a unique culture and this project shows we are up for something a bit different. The balloon is a great way of introducing our business to many different people across the UK". Onlookers gasped in amazement and queued up for a ride on the office block size balloon.	Churchill: Oh no! they didn’t.
	And one mum said: "We only came to Butterfly World and we’ve ended up staying for hours to see this balloon. We won’t be going up in it though.	Churchill: Oh no-no-no you were not invited.
	The reporter then rambled on about the Churchill call centre and where the balloon was going next.	Churchill’s last words: Oh dear-oh dear-oh dear.

	Please contact Rita for your Pennine, Stickers, patches, metal badges. AND THE 25TH Anniversary Booklet BALLOONING THE PENNINE WAY (above). After discussions it was decided to issue the 25th Anniversary Booklet free of charge to all 2003 PRBA members and to issue a complimentary copy to all those past members who sent in contributions. Free copies are being sent out separately from the Scoop and will be with you in the next few days. Price £3.00 (inc.p&p) for extra copies and non-members. Send orders and cheques, made payable to PRBA, to: Mrs R Marshall, 7 Wynford Rise, Leeds, LS16 6HX.