Hi Everyone, I’m back again after missing the blog last week as we were attending the British Balloon Bash, this is a convention but is known as the BBB. It used to be the Blackpool Balloon Bash but as from this year with Lee, Louise and Michael taking over the reins they changed the name and added a few extra ideas to the event. I thought it was a great convention with lots of positives, so well done to everyone who helped put the event together as it must take many many hours. Also a mention to Fiona and Leyla for running the decor side of things and getting everyone together with making the decor around the rooms etc. Hours and hours of planning/designing and then build time. It must be very stressful but the end result was fabulous, well done to everyone who helped, my small contribution was making a handbag for one of the displays. I have started to post the pictures up over on Balloon Chat if you would like to take a look, British Balloon Bash.
If anyone would like to book for next year then this is the website and tickets are £150 for a three day event with four instructors being booked and then the competitions and gala night activities included. I should mention this does include three meals a day if you book into the convention hotel so is very good value for money. Tickets BBB 2026.
So the gala night evening had a few changes, one of which I was involved with but had absolutely no idea about till 10 minutes before it was announced… and to say it was a shock was a complete under statement.
So the organisers decided to start a hall of fame so that anyone coming into the industry could see how it had evolved over the years. This year as they were setting it up they decided to add four people, Sara and Anne who started the bash 11 years ago at a small hotel B and B in Blackpool, each year the event grew with more attending till it has grown to the main balloon convention for twisters in the UK with up to 200 people attending over the weekend. Miss Shirley Ray was also added into the hall of fame for what she has done for the balloon community over the years. From attending conventions, running workshops and putting out very unique balloon tutorials in pamphlet form, then onto a binder yearly series of designs and then VHS and DVD tutorials. Shirley was one of the first instructors I saw before I was into twisting the way I am now and yes I have all of Shirley’s tutorials in my collection. So many congratulations to all three for being in the “Hall of Fame”
And the last person they gave this honour to was… myself, yes I was surprised as well, as I tell people all the time… I’m just a guy who twists balloons. I’m sure people could see from my reactions on stage that it was a total shock and I did struggle to hold things together in front of everyone. Having said that I’m totally honoured to have received the award and it will be a special memory that I will cherish for ever. So thank you to Lee, Louise and Michael for this, it was very much appreciated.
Off to find the random balloon picture of the week… well I’m not really as I have already decided
to post the picture of myself with the “Hall of Fame” trophy, so once again…
Thank You Everyone XXxx
