Bonfire Night 2013

Bonfire Night 2013 photos by Roger Bramford

Please scroll down for full report

Bonfire Night 2013 - As it Happened!

Fairchilds Meadow  Friday 8 November 2013

Well, the Thursday weather forecast said it would be dry on Friday, but Friday morning dawned ... and the forecast had changed to sunny intervals until 18:00 then heavy rain !!!  It actually started to rain at 1 pm and continued heavily and continuously throughout the afternoon.  The teams setting up got soaked and the roof gutter between the two tents filled at an alarming rate and the Safety Officer kept emptying it by squashing it upwards with his hands and admiring the resultant waterfall plummeting down someone’s neck (only kidding).  

At 6 pm it was STILL raining.  At 6:15 pm, the Bonfire Officer came bounding into the food tent, wondering whether we could have the event tomorrow instead.  He is happy that the fire can be lit OK but was concerned that we might not have an audience!  Everyone was happy to come back tomorrow or continue today, all eyes were on the Chair for a decision.  She decided to carry on as planned and make the final decision by quarter to 7.

It was all very convivial, people laughing and joking.  Surely the rain, having started earlier than it should have done, would stop earlier than expected ... at 10 pm rather than 11 pm, haha  The chief cook said he would ease back on the throttle regarding food preparations.  The Chair squelched her way to the other end of the field, to the fireworks team.  The fireworks supplier team, who oversee the firing, did not know whether they were available for the Saturday: they needed to hear from their head office (who were possibly out doing another display).  The Fireworks Officer made the valid point that, in poor weather, spectators are more likely to arrive beyond 7 pm rather than the gate-opening time of 6:30 pm, for a display that starts at 7:30 pm.

Quarter to 7 came and it was STILL raining but less heavily, and only one family had shown up to spectate (family of one of the helpers).  The fireworks supplier team still had not heard from their head office.

At about 5 to 7, the rain stopped.  More people were approaching down the lane.  'I've made my decision’ , the Chair cried to the Gate Guys, it's going ahead, the rain has stopped, the weather is mild, it's gonna be good'  They cheered.

The Chair ran around like a mad thing, telling people it's going ahead.  “At 5 past 7 pm, I turned round and there were about 100 spectators in the field and loads more were coming down the lane!”

The rain held off for the rest of the evening, and the event went well.  Guys were judged at 7:15 pm, and the fire was lit at 7:25 pm.  It was quite smoky, but the smoke looked very photogenic the way it was lit up, and as it was blowing to the right (east), it was not in anyone’s way.  

The fireworks started at 10 to 8, as they were not put out until the rain had stopped.   They were indeed spectacular.  The only downside was that the audience seemed about half that of last year.  And there were fewer Guys.

So, a cliff-hanger beginning, but a worthwhile and brilliant show in the end.  We are so grateful to all the spectators who came to support us despite the dreadful weather.  And to the children who made the Guys – well done.

And, of course; our sincere thanks to the many, many helpers who prepared for the event, turned up on the night, and dealt with the wet and muddy kit afterwards!

Report by The Chair