Just before the Easter weekend, and just a few minutes after 8 in the morning, the Gratton was gently graced with an unexpected visitor from above.

As is the nature of such travel the landing location was not planned, but by happy coincidence, two trustees were walking by and able to let the ground crew onto the grass, saving them a lot of effort dragging the balloon, basket, and burner across the football pitch.

The landing was incredibly slow, graceful and controlled. The ground team grabbed a line attached to the top of the balloon allowing them to direct the collapsing balloon across the football pitch rather than getting snagged on the nearby tennis court, gym equipment or power lines.