He said, although things have changed and children live a more online life, there still seems to be a lot of young people getting involved in ballooning.
“And I think the biggest draw for balloons is the wacky shapes and vibrant colours. They always get the children excited,” he said.
He said his favourite balloon “of all time is Rupert the Bear, no discussion”.
Working at the festival, Mr Hoddinot said the lead-up can be stressful, but he is always happy to be there.
“There’s a great camaraderie amongst balloonists. Everyone will help each other out. The whole ballooning fraternity supports each other,” he said.