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February 15th dawned cold and bright at Cardington,
showing a week of storms and a spell of throughly bad February
weather. Of the two massive sheds, which looks stunning
broadside on from Cotten End with the dawn light streaming
on to them over the hill, No.1 alone gave a clue to the
secret to be revewled inside it's mighty doors standing
slightly ajar.
Waling in to one of the side offices within the shed, I
realised it is cold, very cold, with a chill seeping from
the feet upwards through the bones. Today, after months
of meticulous preparation, the BBML "Inflation Event"
was to try and set the records for the "largest number
of hot air balloons inflated INSIDE a building".
But, as "an observer and crew member" from the
AHT at a BBML event, I was attending a WRN's wedding, or
was there a role to play. The latter soon transpired with
plenty of time to publicise the Trust, through our photographic
display, and earn some hard currency at the same time, as
well as having a prime position from which to enjoy the
Inflation. Huddling round Den Burchmore's trusty heater,
we were still trying to wonder how on earth the shed floor
could be so cold; it gave us a sense of reality as to how
the riggers and crews of old, must have flet working long
hours there.
Content in the knowledge that the file and medical services,
and 230 (Bedford) Squadron of the Air Training Corps were
on hand to cope with possible emergencies (there were none),
the day wore on, and the largest empty space I haveever
seen, began to fill with the roar of burners, and acres
of material billowing roofwards to form shapes generally
recognisable as oht air balloons, although some are not
distinguishable as such until fully inflated; the rotund
grey balloon with five dangly bits that duly becomes a a
40ft elephant; for example; or the giant red-and-black tablecloth
that somehow rises drily into a Fire Extinguisher. The level
of noise increases, and so, to our joy, does the level of
heat.
The
Shed becomes pleasantly warm - but I am stil glad of the
extra t-shirt I have on - and with so many burners going
off at once, someone comments that the site resembles a
Kuwaiti nocturne during the Gulf War. It is only then that
I notice how dark the Shed has become with all the skylights
obliterated by the sheer number of balloons. Looking upward
we see giant inflated cells of fabric pressing against the
outer framework, giving us a glimpse of how the scene might
once have been when the shed was full of airshpi. Suddenly
the "launch" of one of Don Cameron's balloons
gives an idea of the true size of the Shed as it floats
upwards towards the roof. with plenty of room to spare.
The actual
inflation attempt was adjudicated by the Mayor of Bedford,
and the results submitted to the Guinness Book of records;
some 93 man-carrying balloons were inflated at one time,
the total number of inflations during the day was 172, and
a further two balloons flew free without inflating in the
shed. In all a great success for the BBML for the planning
and execution of what might seem to the layman a logistical
nightmare; but a great spectacle notheless, and a novel
way of providing some balloons to celebrate the 80th birthday
of No.1 Shed!
THE OFFICIAL RECORD:Saturday
15th February 1997
Inflation time 08:30 - 17:00
176 balloons in attendance during the day. 93 inflated at
the same time.
Record Not beaten to date. As
No1 Shed built Aug 1916-April 1917.
The event could be described
as the 80th Birthday Party of the Shed!Inflations started
at 0830 and continued through to 1715 - another record?
One balloon was inflated
for over 6 hours in the day (G-HOOV Cameron
N-56).
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