A total of 16 residents of Coads Green and the surrounding area were lucky enough to take off from the playing field behind the village hall on Saturday, August 8, included in the flight was former Cornish and Devon Post correspondent Doris Baker, who fulfilled her life ambition of travelling in a hot air balloon at 98 years young.

The balloon took off from Coads Green and travelled over the surrounding fields and villages. Becky Stephens one of the residents who also enjoyed the balloon flight said: "We were in the air for 55 minutes, first we flew over Tremollet then went on to, Linkinhorne, South Hill, Golberdon, Callington, Newbridge and then landed at Pillaton."

"The landing went very smoothly, and we landed just two fields away from Rosemary Long, who was also on the flight."

After finally being towed out of the muddy field the passengers gained their certificates and were assured by Doris that the flight was most definitely worth the wait. Doris spoke of her experience she said: "It was a complete surprise, we had talked about doing it last year for my birthday in May, however, we didn't get around to it and then the flight had been cancelled twice due to the bad weather, however, it was definitely worth the wait.

"It was a beatiful day, there was a large crowd from the village that came to see us off and in the air it was so peaceful and everything looked so small. We had a very good landing and to top it all off, I was 'gobsmacked' to find afterwards when I went into the hall to pay that everyone had contributed and raised the funds for me to go as a birthday treat. I was lost for words."