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On Saturday 31st May the Brand new Barclays Bank Balloon was inflated for the first time in Piccadilly Gardens

BBM&L Inflation Day

The British Balloon Museum & Library held their bi-annual Inflation Day on Saturday 10^th May, the venue being the Rugby Union Football Club premises at the picturesque Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Lonsdale, this being the first time that the event had been held in the North of the Country. On the day, the event was blessed with mainly dry weather conditions with lightish winds, although a brief shower around lunchtime did bring a brief halt to proceedings. The event was also featured on the local radio station; I can vouch for this as I did a live interview from the launch field

Altogether, 65 balloons were brought out for an airing, including a number of older envelopes from the BBM&L collection and many other now rarely seen balloons. Creating particular amongst the enthusiasts present was the first public airing of the Volga Balloon Team's Russian built DKBA balloon G-KIEV. Other interesting special shapes on display were the rarely seen Auto Meyer truck and the Portuguese BP Gas Cylinder, whilst attempts to at least partly inflate two gas balloons created some interest

Thanks are due to a number of organisations for their help in putting on this event, the Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Union Football Club for allowing us to use their ground, and for putting on drinks and food throughout the day (although I never got to try the hot pot, which although having been well received by everyone, had all gone by the time I got there!), the North West region of the BBAC for their help on the organisational side of thinks, and also LAAS International who once again kindly sponsored the day.