Winston and Janet Howes were married in the British town of Stroud in 1962. They lived together happily in South Gloucestershire for many years as farmers raising a family. That was until disaster struck in 1995 when Janet died of heart failure after 33 blissful years of marriage. She was only 50 years old.
A Husband’s Tribute
It was then that Mr. Howes decided to create a beautiful tribute to the love of his life. It was a well-kept secret until a hot air balloon flew over it in 2012 and the balloonist noticed artistically arranged trees.
Keen hot air balloonist Andy Collett, 42, from Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, was on one of his regular balloon flights in July 2012, when he noticed the grand romantic gesture hidden in the middle of the six-acre field. He said, speaking to the Telegraph: “I have my own balloon and am quite a regular flyer – but this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen from the sky.”
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, continuing “It was a perfect heart hidden away from view – you would not know it was there.” The sweet tribute can only be seen from an aerial view, so it’s no wonder it was a hidden gem of the Gloucestershire countryside for 17 years.
