The historic Icicle Balloon Meet returned to Newbury for its 53rd year on Saturday 4th January, held at the beatutiful Donnington Grove hotel and golf club. Saturday saw 20 balloons take flight in freezing but calm conditions, followed by tethering of a number of old envelopes including our retro Choc Dips tub special shape returning after quite some years!
The Icicle meet began in 1973, held in Marsh Benham and hosted by David Liddiard, which would later be taken over by his son and held just to the south of Marlborough. After several venue changes, since 2016 Icicle has been organised by the 3-4-40 region BBAC, now known as Icicle Refrozen, and it continues to be the longest, continually running hot air balloon meet in the world.
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Photos: Ballooning Pictures UK
I have been attending Icicle since 2019 and although it usually lives up to its name and is absolutely freezing, this meet, in the middle of the UK winter, gives a fantastic opportunity for pilots, crew and enthusiasts to all come together and simply enjoy ballooning. A proper, relaxed meet for balloonists and dedicated watchers also with a small trade show in the hotel ground floor.
Let's wind forward to 2025...
For the 2025 event our team had planned to bring a special surprise along; a balloon from my MJ Ballooning collection that hadn't been inflated since BIBF 2023. It was of course Choc Dips G-DIPI!
Cameron Balloons built G-DIPI, a Tub-80, in 1988, which would be operated on the circuit alongside Colt 17A G-DIPZ. Big dips and little dips! Back in the 80s and 90s companies often opted for a hopper or small round envelope as well as the main special shape for when conditions were less favourable.
We would attempt to inflate both together, side by side, for only the third time since joining the fleet in 2021, something which I thought spectators would love to see.
Ah, the 5:50am alarm which could only mean one thing, it was Icicle time! Saturday morning arrived and with the hour drive from Bristol to Newbury completed, we arrived at a frosty Donnington Grove. It was probably the coldest ballooning morning I have ever experienced, but that didn't stop us!
Attending the 8am flight briefing, the green light was given for free flying with light winds forecast for most of the day. Many teams, not just local to Newbury, were in attendance and enjoyed a stunning winter flight. Familiar faces included Allie in Silver Lining G-BPGD, Liam in Iris G-CCJH, Bradley in G-CIET, Jerry in Able Scaffolding G-CMAB, plus so many others. Around 20 took flight in total. A snow flurry even passed through the site mid-launch - they don't call it Icicle for nothing, eh.
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A number of very old round balloons were inflated too. It was a shame that we were the only special shape when the weather conditions were so perfect.
Once everyone had returned from the morning flight, it was time to set up for our double Choc Dips inflation. All went as planned and both balloons looked fantastic. G-DIPI had last attended the Icicle Balloon Meet in 1990 and it was a pleasure to bring it back after 35 years. It was nice to see spectactors young and old enjoying seeing this classic shape return, possibly after seeing it all those years ago or for the very first time.
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A big thank you to Tom Orpin and Bradley Lewis for inflating both balloons for me and allowing us to bring some special shape history back to the Icicle field. And the whole rest of our team including Liam for use of his kit and Jerry for tether kit.
Afterwards we also helped on Bristol Balloon Collectors' loveable G-WHAT and G-CEYD, seen alongside G-BHND, which wrapped up a really enjoyable morning. By 5pm the balloons were all safely put back and we were home. Time for a nice cuppa!
Until next time! - Matt
