NEALES OF NOTTINGHAM in conjunction with the RNLI Nottingham and District branch and Nottingham Building Society arranged a celebration balloon flight on June 3, 1983, to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the Montgolfier brothers' balloon flight in 1783. The balloon carried a limited edition of 2,000 design covers to raise money for Nottinghamshire lifeboat appeal. The cover (left) depicts the Manchester 1902 Lifeboat Saturday balloon card which Neales sold recently for a British auction record of £1,675 (not for the RNLI) as well as a special cancel designed by Mrs Ledgerward of Nottingham.

Nottingham Building Society kindly flew the covers in their balloon Robin Hood on June 3. The launch was performed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Albert Wright, from Wollaton Park, former home of the Dukes of Newcastle, by permission of the City Council. The covers are available from Mr T. Vennett-Smith, Neales of Nottingham, 192 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3HX. Price: £3.50 each if signed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and the balloon flight crew; or £2.50 each if unsigned..