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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Balloon festival hailed as 'one of the best'
This year's Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta - which saw more than 300 balloon flights over the weekend - was "one of the best", its director has said. Thousands of people descended on Ashton Court Estate over the weekend to watch the hot air balloons take off and see the iconic nightglows. Ben Hardy, executive director of the fiesta, said the event was in his "top three" after 15 years in the job. Speaking to Joe Sims on BBC Radio Bristol, Mr Hardy said a tear "rolled down" his cheek during Sunday's mass ascent. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Official turnout figures have not yet been released, but Mr Hardy said he believes attendance was in the hundreds of thousands across the three days. The final mass ascent of the 47th edition of the fiesta saw many colourful balloons soar across the city during a beautiful sunset. "To finish a fiesta weekend with a mass ascent like the one we had straight over the city - I have to say me and a few team members sat in that arena as the last balloon took off, and a little tear did roll down the cheek," Mr Hardy said. The spectacle is a major part of the fiesta weekend, with six planned ascents across the three days showcasing a display of balloons across Bristol's skylines. This year, only four ascents took place as two were called off due to poor weather conditions. They included fan favourites that fly every year and new editions, such as a 143 ft (43.5 metres) dragon called Oggy. Mr Hardy hinted on BBC Radio Bristol that the owners of Oggy the Dragon may return with a scarecrow balloon next year. Work on next year's Balloon Fiesta begins in September, he said. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Recap: Friday at the Balloon Fiesta - watch the mass ascent and night glow again Balloon festival founder praised as event returns Fiesta gave me ballooning ambition at four Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025 was 'one of the best'
This year's Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta - which saw more than 300 balloon flights over the weekend - was "one of the best", its director has of people descended on Ashton Court Estate over the weekend to watch the hot air balloons take off and see the iconic Hardy, executive director of the fiesta, said the event was in his "top three" after 15 years in the to Joe Sims on BBC Radio Bristol, Mr Hardy said a tear "rolled down" his cheek during Sunday's mass ascent. Official turnout figures have not yet been released, but Mr Hardy said he believes attendance was in the hundreds of thousands across the three final mass ascent of the 47th edition of the fiesta saw many colourful balloons soar across the city during a beautiful sunset."To finish a fiesta weekend with a mass ascent like the one we had straight over the city - I have to say me and a few team members sat in that arena as the last balloon took off, and a little tear did roll down the cheek," Mr Hardy said. The spectacle is a major part of the fiesta weekend, with six planned ascents across the three days showcasing a display of balloons across Bristol's year, only four ascents took place as two were called off due to poor weather included fan favourites that fly every year and new editions, such as a 143 ft (43.5 metres) dragon called Hardy hinted on BBC Radio Bristol that the owners of Oggy the Dragon may return with a scarecrow balloon next on next year's Balloon Fiesta begins in September, he said.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bristol bowel cancer patient urges others to use NHS over 50s tests
A man who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 32 is urging other people to get themselves Carroll spoke to BBC Radio Bristol as part of Joe Sims' Wake Up Call series of broadcasts highlighting the impact of various serious health conditions including heart disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Mr Carroll, who is originally from Headley Park, Bristol, was diagnosed after having a blood test as part of fertility treatment and so credits his now four-year-old daughter with saving his this year the NHS expanded its bowel cancer screening programme to those aged 50 and above. When Mr Carroll was diagnosed in 2018, he had no idea he was suffering with a serious said: "Looking back now I did have symptoms. "I had an ache ... but at the time I just didn't clock it."Mr Carroll added it was not the first time he had faced sickness problems, which meant he dismissed his current symptoms at first."As a kid they thought I had asthma," he said."I used to play a lot of football as a kid and I used to struggle breathing. "I think, with the tumour it's quite slow growing in the bowel, so I just put it down to having asthma."As of January 2025, anyone between the ages of 50 and 74 is automatically sent a home testing kit for bowel cancer every two faecal immunochemical test, also known as the poo test, checks for blood in a small stool sample which is a common sign of cancer."You've got to do it [the poo test]," Mr Carroll said."If there's any issues at all just go to your doctor, just get it checked out. "Just do it. Don't delay it."
BBC News
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol Balloon Fiesta partners with youth mental health charity
Bristol Balloon Fiesta has partnered with a South West youth mental health charity for this year's charity, Love Squared, said it had a "wonderful big, very colourful, tent" by the balloon launch site, where families can do arts and crafts and learn about the services it thousands of people are expected to have visited Ashton Court Estate between 8 and 10 August to watch more than 100 balloons take off. Love Squared's deputy safeguarding lead, Essi Pentti, told BBC Radio Bristol: "There is so much stigma around talking about mental health, particularly with young people, and we are trying to break down that stigma by having a very visible platform there." The charity provides education and mentoring to children and young people across Bristol and the South West, at schools and in the Pentti said: "There are such huge waiting lists for services, so we're trying to help children achieve the best they can and support them with their mental health through mentoring." They continued: "The pressures on children today are so huge. School is tricky, social media is so big, there is a lot of stress when it comes to academic performance. "Particularly post-Covid we've seen such a rise in young people struggling with their mental health." A 250-mile static bike ride will also be held in the charity's tent at the are invited to pedal a few miles towards the total to help raise money for the charity's services.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Successful ascent on balloon fiesta's second day
Dozens of hot air balloons took part in a second early ascent over Bristol for the International Balloon Fiesta. They took off from Ashton Court at around 06:00 BST and flew towards Yate. Crowds also watched the night glow on Friday which was set to a soundtrack created by BBC Radio Bristol. More than 100 balloons are due to be launched during the course of the three-day event, which has been held for the past 47 years. The balloons had a successful morning flight despite the overcast weather. On Friday, hundreds of people watched the night glow event at Ashton Gate. The balloons were lit up in time to a soundtrack picked by the BBC Radio Bristol team. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Hot air balloons take to the sky - in pictures Balloon festival founder praised as event returns Fiesta gave me ballooning ambition at four Related internet links Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025
