Issue 68

Back Issues

It gives you a wallow in fireworks’ past:
Hammond’s Fireworks – their history and truly remarkable end is told by Michael Thomson – with pictures of Hammond’s fireworks; Ron Harris traces the history of the penny banger – copiously illustrated; Arthur Percival delves into the history of the cradle of the British gunpowder industry in Faversham; The story of Bernard Wells, by Alan Wells – describing his career in America; Richard Lane describes his life in fireworks – from early days at Wells’

It covers unique events:
Pyrotex – records Joe Webb’s surprise at being asked to design their Malta display; Nicholas Chase describes the biggest firework display in Switzerland

If you use or trade in fireworks, it provides what you need to know:
Developments in regulations; Andy Hubble relates the latest news on EU and UK legislation, as well as changes to Plymouth; Directory of firework companies – supplied in electronic form

It amuses and entertains you:
Alex Schmitt surveys the history and contemporary consumer firework scene in Germany; Jesse Veverka looks at the embryo firework industry in Africa; Elaine Moore looks at the wacky world of firework legislation; Matthew Tosh enthuses children at the Science Museum with his firework talk; Ettore Contestabile appeals: ‘Ask Me About My Bombshells’; John Lockwood recalls the amazing story of an American Civil War firework battle; Cartoon by Sturtz

It supplies firework news:
Mark Dempsey, Wilf Scott, Jon Culverhouse and Mike Bowerman remember Malcolm Armstrong; Anthony Lealand records some worrying incidents in New Zealand; Nicola Davies looks into the psychology behind fireworks

It provides you with colourful firework photographs:
Paul Brock’s wonderful photography; Simon Harding provides an illustration of his Wilder’s dummy board; The most delightful picture of children at a bonfire in the 1950s; Excelsior firework in an Australian museum

It keeps you up to date:
John Halfpenny provides the first of a new series of news from the BFA; New publications

and… Sad to report, Bill Maslin, Kath Lancaster, Bob Claydon and Arthur Percival have died; Graphene starts a Kimbolton display; More on CE marking and European standard; HSE Guidance and COMAH; Just how polluting are fireworks? More on fog rockets; A Pain’s store – in Openshaw; More on serpents; Just what were saucissons? More on Mortrams

Writing in this issue: Anthony Lealand, Matthew Tosh, Andy Hubble, Ron Lancaster, John Halfpenny, Barry Sturman, Elaine Moore, Alan Wells, John Lockwood, Michael Thomson, Ettore Contestabile, Ron Harris, Mark Dempsey, Wilf Scott, Jon Culverhouse, Mike Bowerman, Nicola Davis, Arthur Percival, Alex Schmitt, Joseph Webb, Jesse Veverka, Nicholas Chase and John Bennett; Cartoons by Sturtz; Photography by Paul Brocklehurst