Lift-off: Woodeaton Manor School governor Peter Hore prepares to release the balloons to mark James Sadler’s pioneering balloon flight
BALLOONS floated into the air at Woodeaton at the weekend to mark the anniversary of a historic balloon landing 231 years ago.
Hundreds watched the release of 30 balloons in tribute to pioneering Oxford aeronaut James Sadler.
The Oxford pastry chef built and flew a hot air balloon from the city centre to Woodeaton on October 4, 1784.
Organiser Dave Dunphy, who wants to open a visitors’ centre in Oxpens celebrating Mr Sadler, said: “Sadler’s achievements were amazing. It would be like Paul Hollywood from the Great British Bake Off flying a rocket to the moon and coming back all on his own.
“Sadler was the only one of his contemporaries who flew a balloon and did not die during the flight, on take-off or when he landed.”
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