Do you know someone who's celebrating a birthday, or maybe you're heading for a milestone yourself and just want to decorate a party venue? Make sure everyone gets the age right with our range of colourful age ballons. All designs are available in 18, 21, 30, 40, 50 and 60 and one or two of them even go up to 70, 80, 90 and 100. You can send them as a gift via our delivery service or use them as part of a balloon decorating package. give us a call or drop us an email for more details.

(Well 60 actually, we took a little creative license with the title!)

We recently did a balloon release for a lady in Farnborough who told us she had an epiphany one night and came up with a lovely novel way of celebrating her husbands 60th birthday and retirement.

Apparently the birthday boy wasn’t keen on a fuss or a big party, but nonetheless his family and friends wanted to mark the occasion for him somehow.

So in a flash of brilliance his wife, Shirley, came up with an idea. The plan was to release 60 balloons with a label attached to each one with a short message and an email address so that anyone who found a balloon could send her husband, Ray, a birthday greeting which we all thought was a lovely idea.

So on Saturday 11th of February, on a slightly overcast, but dry and mild Saturday morning we trundled off to Farnborough with our balloon net, and gas, armed with 60 red balloons (and a couple of spares just in case). The Police, the local council and the Civil Aviation Authority were all informed of our plans and although the CAA generally don't need to give permission unless it's 5000 or more it's always a courtesy to let them know, even if it's only a small number. Especially when you're releasing them very close to an airport!

In a team effort Cathy (from 81 Red Balloons) and Shirley blew up all the balloons and with one exception managed to get them all in the net, ready for the big release.

Ray, the birthday boy, arrived and took hold of the net and after a countdown by the family members, friends and neighbours who had gathered to watch as he set them free.

We understand that Ray has had several emails (and no doubt he’s been added to a few spam lists by now as well) and was ‘secretly chuffed’ with his birthday surprise despite his initial reluctance.

81 Red Balloons all hope that Ray had a lovely birthday and wish him a happy retirement, and to say thank you to his wife Shirley for sending us this lovely email.

“This is just a quick email to say a very big thank-you from all who were involved in Rays 60th birthday balloon release. He was thrilled and thought it was a great way to celebrate a landmark birthday and retirement.

Thanks once again for making it a memorable occasion.

Shirley and family”

(everyone at 81 Red Balloons would like to thank Shirley and Ray for sending us these lovely photo's of the balloon release)

60 Red Balloons, floating in the winter sky.

... Set them free at the break of dawn, 'till one by one they're all gone (well mid morning anyway!)

Ray gets ready to release 60 red balloons to celebrate his 60th Birthday.