Bristol Balloon Fiesta: Cameron Balloons staff celebrate founder

Younger team members are also rising through the ranks. Paul Waldby and Fleur Pryce are in training to become balloon pilots.

Ms Pryce said: “This business has made an impact on a lot of Bristolians. I feel like it’s been a big part of the history here.

“It’s really inspiring, it’s nice to be a part of it.”

Mr Waldby, who is from Australia, said: “All I knew about the place is that there were balloons here, it’s really quite iconic.”

In 1978, Don Cameron was asked to give a talk about his ballooning exploits, and the idea of a balloon fiesta was born in the pub afterwards.

Now, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta attracts hundreds of thousands of people and is the largest hot air balloon festival in Europe.