September 11, 2012, by Lindsay Brooke

Team Janet’s tribute flight for Nottingham Balloon

The University of Nottingham’s hot air balloon took to the skies during the Chatsworth Country Fair this year in memory of Dr Janet Folkes who died in January after a long battle with cancer.

‘Team Janet’ – Tony Hutchby, Denise Hallett, Paul Stephenson, Chris Rigby, Holly Wilkinson, Ian Warrington (Pilot), Tom Parker, Nicci Parker, Yvonne Wilkinson – wanted to pay tribute to Janet, the high flying academic from the Faculty of Engineering, who piloted the balloon for the University both in the UK and at venues across the world.

Having flown and crewed for Janet on many occassions ‘Team Janet’ was officially formed at the same event last year when they knew it would be Janet’s last opportunity to fly.

Yvonne said: “We knew Chatsworth 2012 would be poignant but ‘Team Janet’ felt strongly that we needed to see the Nottingham University balloon flying again after many months of hibernation and the Chatsworth Country Fair was the right place to do that”.

Having passed its annual airworthiness inspection with flying colours friends and family joined ‘Team Janet’ to see the Nottingham Balloon take to the skies once again. A Janet Folkes Memorial Trophy will be presented each year at the Chatsworth Country Fair for the pilot who flies the furthest distance whilst remaining on the Chatsworth Map. This year’s winner was Andrew Davidson a great friend of Janet’s.

The East Midlands Balloon Group who hosted the Chatsworth Balloon meet selected Breast Cancer Care UK as their charity this year in memory of Janet.

These pictures – in perfect conditions on Friday 31st August and Saturday 1st September – were taken by Andrew Hallsworth of Marlow Photographic.

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