We drove out of Abingdon towards Culham on the A415, then drove on old military tracks and rutted farmtracks to Culham Park – just over the River Thames from Abingdon and well known for Moto X.
There were fair ground amusements, food stalls with long queues, slack-line balancing, and in one marquee a drum circle. I gather the Hot Air Balloon ‘night glow’ had not been possible because of conditions but there was a laser show.
Just before the firworks, archers shot flaming arrows to try to get the bonfire started, but it took somebody with a flaming torch – Olympic style – to ignite the pile with Guy Fawkes on top.
Money raised goes to Help The Heroes. If I remember right this is the same event that happened for one year in the Abbey Meadows, since when it has been at Culham Park.
Before that there was a large firework event at Dalton Barracks – although that could have been a different organisation.
(The 2nd Abingdon Scouts fireworks – next Saturday – has been the same as long as I remember.)
The annual Abingdon Firework Display at Dalton Barracks was a different display, put on by myself (Organised Chaos Fireworks), as was the one over the river at Abbey Meadows (because the airfield was already booked). Many people commented to me afterwards how much they liked the “cosy” atmosphere by the river, but the problem with holding it there was too many people watching for free from the two car-parks and the road bridge. (Unfortunately as these events were funded entirely by myself, I could not afford to put them on for free). I also initiated the Scout one, (how i first got into fireworks), along with the Group Scout leader and his wife, (it originated at the Scout HQ with about 130 friends & family attending), moving in the 2nd year to its present location. I felt it was starting to grow too big for the site, and then I started my own display up at the airfield.