High winds and rain failed to dampen spirits at the 11th annual bonfire and fireworks display in Ward’s Field last Saturday evening.
More than three hundred and fifty people braved the poor weather and were treated to a spectacular display. Large, orange flames from the bonfire licked the night sky and that was followed by a twenty minute cascade of colour from multi-coloured pyrotechnics staged by Illusion Fireworks. Last year the company from Wallingford topped the national British Fireworks championships and certainly lived up to its reputation.
The event was run for the first time by a new team led by Jenny and Nick Caw. Jenny said: “Despite the weather several hundred people turned up to help make the evening a great success. Our thanks go to them and our army of volunteers.”
The winners of the bonfire guys competition were Oliver and Ethan Pepper with the Merry Marauder, a computer game character. Tying for second place was a depiction of the three demolished cooling towers at Didcot power station created by Estyn and Gwenn Cumming and an entry called Time Waster by the Crosskey family.
The competition was sponsored by The Plough Inn, and Oliver and Ethan received a £20 voucher for a meal. The competition was organised by previous winners of the competition Tom and Emily Richardson and family.
