This year will be the 50th year that Bonfire Night has been celebrated. It all started in a simple way in the garden of a family who had moved to Woodnewton in 1967. The house had a large garden and there was a lot of wooden debris left in the garden from the hedgerow and trees. Having wondered what to do with the debris the idea was raised to have a bonfire party with fireworks on the 5th November. So a box of garden fireworks was purchased from Fairways in Peterborough, (no longer there). They invited friends from work together with neighbours they had got to know. The family provided the food consisting of soup, hot dogs and jacket potatoes. The guests brought along the drinks of beer and wine. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening such that it was decided to repeat it the following year which set in motion the annual bonfire night.
At this time two events came about in the village, the formation of Woodnewton Care and Community Association and the creation of the playing field. The C.C.A decided to take over the organisation of bonfire night and move it to the playing field. It was decided that this would be a village event and no charge would be made. The fireworks together with sparklers for the children were purchased by the C.C.A. However a tent was erected on the playing field with a camping Gaz stove so that soup and hot dogs could be sold. Lighting in the tent was provided through a cable from an adjacent property. A long rope and stakes were obtained to form a safety barrier between the playing area and the bonfire. (The rope and stakes are still used today).
With the closure of Fairways the C.C.A Committee approached the Rev Lancaster’s company to supply us with fireworks, which he did. These proved to be more powerful than our usual ones. However the next year he declined to supply us as his company had become more involved with professional displays and was no longer supplying individuals. So another supplier of fireworks was found suitable for our event. One year a family moved to the village, the husband being a RNLI inspector, contributed what we thought were fireworks but turned out to be maroons for launching lifeboats. They certainly rattled a few windows in the village when they went off.
Initially the fireworks were kept in the box they came in but following concerns expressed by the committee, a member came up with a steel chest complete with lid. However one particular bonfire night turned out to be one of the most spectacular of this period. This came about when unfortunately the lid on the steel chest did not get closed and a spark from a lighted firework fell inside. The result was that all the fireworks proceeded to go off in the fastest time ever. Following this event it was decided to place the firework display in the hands of a more professional organisation.
The villagers had come to realise that bonfire night was an ideal time to trim hedges and trees and dispose of any unwanted wooden items. So a collection was arranged using a tractor and trailer borrowed from a village farmer. One funny incident occurred following the use of the tractor in that on returning the tractor to the farmer his dog would not let the driver get off the tractor. So he drove it back onto Main Street and phoned the farmer to tell him to collect the tractor.
The next major change came about with the opening of the village hall in 1992. The Village Hall Committee took over the organisation of bonfire night. The facilities there meant that a lot more services could be provided. Soup, burgers, hot dogs, tea, coffee, and soft drinks could be sold. Two popular items are the roast pork sandwiches and the Mulled Wine. Due to the availability of the professional organisation employed to provide the firework display it was decided to move the date of the event to coincide with Halloween. This gives the children the opportunity to show their skills at not only producing a GUY but to produce figures made with melons. The winner of the competition is given the task of pressing the button to start the firework display. The night now not only attracts residents from the village but also from the surrounding villages. A small charge is made for entrance to the village hall and area to contribute towards the cost of the professional display. The money from the sale of food and drinks goes towards the maintenance of the village hall.
And so the family having that first bonfire party little realised what it would become 50 years later. May it long continue……..
2018