Mum hopes to fly late husband's hot air balloon at festival

A CARMARTHENSHIRE mum-of-two is learning to fly her late husband’s hot-air balloon, almost four years after launching a festival in his memory.

- IAN LEWIS

The Ar y Gorwel Balloon Festival takes place each May, with balloonists from across the UK travelling to Llandovery to take part in the fundraiser in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.

Laura Davies, 41, who lives in Llanwrda, said her aim is to fly the balloon at next year’s festival.

She said: “Other than me and the children, I think ballooning was the love of Arwel’s life. It brought him so much joy and so much pride. As a family, we have such an emotional connection to it.

“That is why it was so important to revive the historic hot-air balloon festival. It was a dream of Arwel’s to see it return to the skies of Llandovery.

“Sadly, he did not live to see that happen - but I, along with Arwel’s best friend Ian Jones and his wife Louise, felt it would be a fitting and lasting legacy, and four years on it's become a key fixture in the ballooning calendar.”

On July 8, 2021, Arwel, 40, and daughter Sofia, then aged seven, were involved in a head-on road traffic collision near Llandeilo.