Fireworks

[McRhu]

Nowadays, I don’t think many people under about forty know the history.

I see no reason why it should ever be forgot.

 

[brad465]

Perhaps if/when the US calms down politically they can have a second fireworks night in their calendar, on January 6th every year, which was essentially the modern equivalent of what Guy Fawkes attempted.

 

[GusB]

Perhaps if/when the US calms down politically they can have a second fireworks night in their calendar, on January 6th every year, which was essentially the modern equivalent of what Guy Fawkes attempted.

Penny for the Trump?

 

[Busaholic]

When was a wee kid there was only really Standard fireworks you could buy (well your parents), nowhere near as loud as they are today.

We had two sorts available in S.E. London, the other of which was Brock's, established in the capital in 1698 and, to my surprise, still going today. For a long time fireworks were made just up the road from you at Nunhead. John Brock, the founder, died on 5th November 1720!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see no reason why it should ever be forgot.

How about having a Cromwell Day, because after all, he actually oversaw the execution of a ruling monarch (as well as banning Christmas)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How about having a Cromwell Day...

Seems there already is. Apparently, it's 3rd September, being the anniversary of Cromwell's death in 1658.

 

[Trackman]

We had two sorts available in S.E. London, the other of which was Brock's, established in the capital in 1698 and, to my surprise, still going today. For a long time fireworks were made just up the road from you at Nunhead. John Brock, the founder, died on 5th November 1720!

Ah.... Brock's!!! remember them - very poor as I remember.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Pain's was another, long established, brand name. And Astra. Are either or both firms still in business?

 

[Gloster]

Pain's was another, long established, brand name. And Astra. Are either or both firms still in business?

Pain’s appear to be still going, but their less than informative website suggests that organising and managing displays is their main interest. Brocks are now Chinese owned and don’t manufacture in this country any longer. Astra seems to have disappeared, at least as far as manufacturing is concerned.

 

[Lost property]

Fireworks !

Ok, yes they are part of our social culture, but, they are also a curse.

Last night, I was hoping the rain would curtail events...wrong, albeit they weren't that extensive. The reason I may appear to be a "killjoy " is..the dog. The poor thing becomes very distressed, and she's far from alone, with the noise. It's makes me intensely angry and frustrated, when, despite all the comfort and TLC I can offer, I can't alleviate the source of her distress.

I can accept the various coloured displays, the noise levels are comparatively low, but not the obsession with loud explosive bangs just for the sake of making such. Spare a thought also for the many veterans suffering PTSD for whom such must evoke all the wrong sort of memories

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I've seen and heard a lot less fireworks around here today today.

 

[Harvester]

I've seen and heard a lot less fireworks around here today today.

Same here compared to yesterday evening. Our cat is less stressed!

 

[jon0844]

Fireworks are pretty expensive - at least the good ones - so maybe that's why less of them were being set off this year. The local convenience store that opens a separate shop for fireworks season was pretty quiet. I suppose if they do any big discounts to clear out, we may see people buy some more for new year (if they aren't tempted to set them off in the coming days).

 

[Gloster]

A slightly belated answer, but Astra seems to have decided to move across to military pyrotechnics in the early 1980s and ended up embroiled in the Matrix Churchill/Arms to Iraq debacle. Their works at Sandwich were probably in a former DP’s camp from World War II, possibly using buildings from when it was Richborough Military Port. Two of the former DPs started up a fireworks company after the war, but after being told they couldn’t operate from their private address, moved to Sandwich.

All from various threads, but I think that this is generally correct.

 

[gg1]

Fireworks !

Ok, yes they are part of our social culture, but, they are also a curse.

They're only part of our social culture from one night a year, plus the weeks leading up to that night.

What is relatively new (only the past 20 years or so) is the availability and use of them throughout the year, presumably for private parties. In the summer months it's rare to go more than a few weeks without hearing them now, at least it is where I live.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They're only part of our social culture from one night a year, plus the weeks leading up to that night.

Social culture is one thing, but those events in Scotland where the police and fire brigade were not just targeted by youths but adults were involved in the co-ordination and the ready supply of fireworks to be used deliberately against the police is a totally different matter.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

They're only part of our social culture from one night a year, plus the weeks leading up to that night.

Of course, every chance that loads of folk (not just Hindus) will also be celebrating Diwali next Sunday!

 

[gg1]

Of course, every chance that loads of folk (not just Hindus) will also be celebrating Diwali next Sunday!

No problem with that at all, it's the now year round availability and use of them I object to.

Social culture is one thing, but those events in Scotland where the police and fire brigade were not just targeted by youths but adults were involved in the co-ordination and the ready supply of fireworks to be used deliberately against the police is a totally different matter.

Indeed, but the misuse of them for anti-social and/or criminal behaviour is a separate and more serious (though admittedly not entirely unrelated) issue.

 

[edwin_m]

I think we have to accept that various people will want to let off fireworks at various different times of year. The current law seems about right to me, with a limited number of nights when they can be used after 11pm.

What I find less acceptable is the noise level. If a much lower limit was set and enforced, probably including professional displays too, then use late at night and stress to animals would both be less of a problem.

 

[al78]

It has been unusually quiet where I live just outside Horsham, in fact I barely had any reminder it was bonfire night yesterday evening. I used to enjoy going to a local organised display that was 100 meters from my front door but that ceased just before the pandemic took hold. I suspect quite a few organised displays have been canned due to lack of funds and fewer people having private displays due to cost of living issues. I do enjoy the colourful fireworks and feel a bit guilty for that as I can appreciate the externalised costs to animals, they seem to be let off weeks in advance, and analagous to car headlights there seems to be a competition as to who can have the loudest. I'd enjoy a display just as much if they were colourful and silent.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Nov 2023 ==

Indeed, but the misuse of them for anti-social and/or criminal behaviour is a separate and more serious (though admittedly not entirely unrelated) issue.

I agree, if we try to restrict everything that the scum element of society can and does abuse, we would have far less enjoyment in life.