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Posts Tagged ‘Guy Fawkes’

Guy Fawkes (1570 -1606) conspired in the Gunpowder Plot to blow up King James the 1st and members of both Houses of Parliament.
He was arrested in the cellar, which contained 36 barrels of gunpowder, on November 4, 1605 interrogated, tortured and finally executed.
Guy Fawkes Night is still celebrated in Britain every year with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of the “Guy”.

The future of Whangarei’s popular Guy Fawkes fireworks display is up in the air as organisers hunt for a suitable venue.

The Lions Club of Whangarei has been putting on the annual early November fireworks display for 15 years at Okara Park.

But last year’s event had to be moved as the park was being upgraded.

It was then cancelled after the alternative venue – Tikipunga Sports Domain – was deemed unsuitable because   dozens of horses were nearby.

Now the new Northland Events Centre stadium’s plastic roof makes it an unsuitable spot for the display.

Lions Club of Whangarei president Malcolm Hawthorn said after last year’s “disaster” the club had wanted to gauge public support for whether the event should continue, and if so where it should be held.

Mr Hawthorn said the fireworks spectacular was among the longest and best pyrotechnic shows in the country, but the rules  stipulate that when you shoot rockets from 15cm mortars they have to be well away from  people and buildings.

“Following last year’s disaster we have now identified that there are no alternative public spaces that meet the fire zone and public setback regulations,” Mr Hawthorn said.

“The future development of Pohe Island/William Fraser Memorial Park is the only public space with the required areas available for this activity in the future. It is ideal, being close to our old Okara site, meaning it does not have any livestock or horse issues  if the event was held on the city periphery.”

He said Okara Park was no longer suitable, despite its $18.5million upgrade into a multievents centre, as there were two main impediments.

“Firstly it’s [the new stadium] got a plastic roof and we can’t risk the roof. Secondly the [neighbouring] Old Boys ground has been sold to Hill Construction for development,” Mr Hawthorn said.

“We used to fire our big shells from the Old Boys ground and that development will affect those setback rules.”

The event took a lot of organising and raised more than $20,000 for charity, but before Lions committed to continuing it wanted to find out what the public thought.

The club had talked about putting on a free show, including possibly setting off the fireworks from a barge on Hatea River, and calling for donations, but that carried too much risk for the club.

Barge Park was also not an option because of nearby bush, while Port Nikau had also been looked at, but that would only be for four or five years maximum.

Mr Hawthorn said if the public wanted the event to continue, and backed Pohe Island as the spot, the club would approach the Whangarei District Council for permission.

“If they wanted Pohe Island we’d have to ask the council be careful not to obscure too many sight lines, and block the views of the fireworks, when they redevelop the park,” he said.

“But we need to know what the public wants first.”

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A COMBINATION of foul weather and hard work saw a massive drop in bonfire-related incidents in and around Kilmarnock last week.

Station Commander Stephen Logan, based at the town’s fire station in Campbell Street, said on Monday this year’s Guy Fawkes’ night celebrations had been one of the quietest his crews had seen for years.

Said Stephen: “Four years ago there were 40 fireworks/bonfire-related turnouts at the station from November 1-5.

“That figure has been steadily decreasing and the figure for the same period last week was actually down to just seven – a massive drop.”

The station commander acknowledged that the heavy rain over the days leading up to November 5 had helped the situation.

But he added: “It shows too that our approach is working. We have been co-operating with East Ayrshire Council, and that has paid off. Unofficial bonfires around the area were cleared away prior to Thursday night.

“We have also been going around schools talking to pupils about safety issues relating to fireworks.

“It was very pleasing to such encouraging statistics this year.”

The big East Ayrshire Council fireworks display planned for Kay Park on Thursday night was cancelled due to the boggy state of the area in the wake of the prolonged wet spell.

EAC said this week that they appreciated that the call-off had disappointed thousands of people, with the annual display normally one of the major events of the year in the Kilmarnock area.

It’s hoped to reschedule the display, but as the Standard went to press no future date had been confirmed.

Three days of Guy Fawkes celebrations across London kick off tonight, with dozens of fireworks displays in parks.

Organisers promised a “huge array” of “the best pyrotechnics”. Many of the events are free. Tonight, thousands are expected to flock to south London venues, where many of the displays will be taking place.

There will be fireworks at Brockwell Park, Clapham Common, Streatham Common, Wimbledon Park, Crystal Palace Park and Southwark Park. There will also be displays at Roundwood Park, Brent and Syon Park, Brentford — where the Gunpowder Plot will be re-enacted.

Displays will also be held tomorrow and on Saturday, when crowds will gather at some of the country’s biggest fireworks shows. Fireworks at Alexandra Palace will be coupled with England’s largest German beer festival and a funfair, and this year’s display at Battersea Park will be set to music with the theme of “love”.

Sally Chatterjee, chief executive of Visit London, said: “London has a huge array of firework displays taking place this year and many of them are free. It’s an ideal way to see some of London’s most stunning parks and heaths while enjoying some of the best pyrotechnics displays around.”

Firework displays in the capital

TONIGHT

Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road. 7.30pm, free.

Clapham Common 7.30pm, free.

Streatham Common 7.30pm, free.

Wimbledon Park 6.30pm and 8.15pm with funfair. Adults £7, children £4, family ticket £20.

Southwark Park 7pm, free.

Roundwood Park, Harlesden Road. 6.45pm, free.

Syon Park, Brentford. 8pm with re-enactment of the Gunpowder Plot. Adults £5, children £2.

Crystal Palace Park Children’s fireworks 7pm, main display 8pm. Adults £5, children £3.

Waltham Forest Town Hall, Walthamstow. 6pm with funfair. Adults £4, children £3, under-fives free

TOMORROW

Bishop’s Park, Fulham. Funfair 6pm, fireworks 7.15pm and 8pm. £6 or £4 in advance, under-fives free.

Kingsmeadow Stadium, Kingston Road. 8pm, adults £6, children £4.

Wanstead Flats 6.15pm. Free

SATURDAY

Ealing Cricket Club 7.30pm with bonfire, barbecue and children’s rides. Adults £5, children £3.

Enfield Town Park Funfair 6pm, display 7.30pm. Adults £5, children £3.

Walker Cricket Ground, Southgate. Food, bar and children’s rides 5pm, fireworks 8pm. Adults £6, children £4.

Alexandra Palace Beer festival 4.30pm, fireworks 7.30pm, free.

Ravenscourt Park Funfair 7.15pm, fireworks 8pm. £6, under-fives free.

Barking Park Funfair and concert 5.30pm, fireworks 8pm. Adults £5, children £1 with paying adult.

Danson Park, Bexleyheath. Food and entertainment 5.30pm, fireworks 8pm. Adults £5, children £3.

Norman Park, Hayes, Kent. Open 5pm, fireworks 8pm. Adults £5, children £3.

Croydon Road Recreation Ground Children’s fireworks 7pm, main display 8pm. Adults £5, children £3.

Chislehurst Recreation Ground Bonfire 7pm, fireworks 7.30pm. Adults £6, children £3.

Blackheath Common 8pm, free.

Morden Park 6.30pm and 8.15pm. Adults £7, children £4.

Victoria Park 7.30pm, free.

Battersea Park. Bonfire and bar 7.30pm, fireworks 8pm — set to music to the theme of love. Adults £6, under-10s £1.

Call it what you will, the best night in the UK calander has arrived.

Bonfire Night is traditionally to celebrate the failure (or more likely the attempt) of the the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators had a dastardly plan to blow up parliament, the King and all the hangers on.

Guy was captured and tortured and finally executed along with his buddies, and the King and all of the government survived to li(v)e another day.

So, how do we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night in the UK?  With fireworks of course!!

Picture of Guy Fawkes

The man himself Guy Fawkes would be proud I am sure of how well he is remembered today.

Here at Epic Fireworks we love Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfires and any excuse to set off fireworks.

Have a safe and happy night and enjoy your fireworks wherever you are!!

Happy Bonfire Night everybody!