BORN to FLY

One perfect summer’s day, a boy called Derek was standing on top of a moorland cairn.

His eyes were fixed on a bright red balloon drifting high above, in a cloudless blue sky.

Derek yearned to be up there in that basket, working the controls and staring far and wide to the four horizons.

His one and only ambition, was to become a balloonist.

Fortunately, his ambition was going to materialize, for his parents, Arthur and Mandy, were both balloonists.

The moment he finished his final school year, Derek began to work towards his goal.

His parents taught him how to work the controls and before he knew it, he was steering the balloon.

The flights were short to begin with, but as his skills developed, they lengthened.

Then one day, Derek was given the opportunity to start flying alone.

All his life he waited for that moment.

However, it was not enough, no.

He wanted to travel all over the world in a balloon and at greater heights. He wanted to take part in competitions too.

Fortunately, Derek had his opportunity.

He met other balloonists, joined expeditions and took part in competitions all over the world.

He flew across the Sahara, the Alps, China, Australia, the Andes, the Rockies, the Amazon, Iceland, the Himalayas and many other areas.

He even went across Everest.

Nothing pleased Derek more than to flying in a balloon. To him, ballooning was the only thing, the only way of life.

He was born to fly.