Quayside Fireworks
The third annual Wivenhoe Fireworks, organised by the fine folk from the Wivenhoe Open Racing Club, took place down at the Quay on Saturday evening. Free entrance resulted in a capacity crowd packed out across the front. Collection buckets enabled locals to show their appreciation, with all money raised going towards the building fund for the Royal British Legion and the Essex Air Ambulance..
Many local businesses also supported the event, including the Wivenhoe Bookshop and the Rose and Crown. Once again the location of the quayside boozer turned out to be the perfect business plan. Queues were four deep before the first banger was launched shortly after 8pm. Hip flasks from home also appeared to be a popular option…
The firework display itself was simply stunning. I wasn’t expecting the grand scale of the display, which lasted just over fifteen minutes in duration. Like a DJ set, the trick is to build up the anticipation, and then finish with a big, um, bang.
Wivenhoe locals weren’t disappointed. This was an extremely slick, professional and near perfect way in which to stage fireworks. The location of the launcher on the Rowhedge side of the Colne added a safe, and *shhh* romantic element. With the quayside illuminated for the evening, even @AnnaJCowen got a little over friendly as we ooh-ed and ahh-ed the evening away.
With many other local firework displays taking place next weekend (Elmstead Market next Saturday,) the back to front approach of mixing up Bonfire Night with Halloween has served Wivenhoe well. The ghoulish fancy dress theme saw some stunning costumes from the kids. It wasn’t clear if some of the adults were in fancy dress or not…
And so some time shortly after 8:15, the smoke cleared across the Colne, and the Nottage PA system pumped out the rather appropriate Smoke Across the Water. The beautiful clear North Essex skies once again opened up, with an array of stars providing the backdrop.
Yer man from the Open racing Club thanked Wivenhoe for supporting the event, and added with tremendous efficiency, that the fireworks will return back down to the Quay on October 29, 2011.
Time to start stocking up on that hip flask…
Many, many thanks to the Open Racing Club for a stunning display. Well done to the locals businesses for also supporting the occasion.
01/11/2010 at 5:01 pm Permalink
Hi
Thanks for putting the video up. I was one of those firing the display, and it’s a rare treat to get a chance to see it. Things are a little busy when firing, and we don’t have time to enjoy the show ourselves, just hope that others do.
Whilst writing I should mention that the event was actually organised by the Wivenhoe Ocean Racing Club (known locally as WORC) which is a separate entity to the Wivenhoe Sailing Club who didn’t actually have anything to do with it.
Thanks again.
Dave