Hundreds brave mud-fest for fireworks

10:49pm Saturday 1st November 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

HELPERS at a major firework display spoke of invoking the “Dunkirk spirit” tonight as they battled against the elements to entertain the crowds.

Organisers of the event at Four Ashes Field, Kingshill Road, High Wycombe, said the show had to go on, despite the atrocious weather conditions.

Torrential downpours, which swamped some roads near the site, making driving perilous, had appeared to cast doubt over whether it would go ahead.

However Martin Wright vice chairman of the organisers - High Wycombe Round Table - said there was never any suggestion it would be cancelled.

“We can’t control the weather, there’s nothing we can do about that. It’s our biggest event of the year.

"As long as people who came here had a fantastic night, got home safely that’s all you can ask for. There was no doubt at all it would happen, a bit of rain couldn’t stop it.”

The evening was around four months in the planning.

Mr Wright added, although significantly more people had come in years when the weather was dry, it was a good turnout.

Hundreds of Guy Fawkes night revellers, armed with umbrellas, braved the wind and rain to make it to the mud-fest to see the spectacular light show.

Chris Arckless president of High Wycombe Lions, who provided and sold hot food, said: “I think it’s been a very good effort, it’s a bit of the Dunkirk spirit isn’t it?

"We’re a bit down on sales from last year, but considering the weather, we’ve not done badly.”

Christopher Rowland, of Downley, High Wycombe, went with his wife Sylvia and two daughters Chloe and Amy.

He said: “I think it was a very good effort on behalf of all the people who organised the event.

"It’s a very good event, this is our second time. It was excellent.”

A huge bonfire, gave huddled crowds some warmth, and provided an impressive retort to the soaking conditions.

Bucks New University students Natacia Cooper, 20, and Kerry Baxter, 21, gave the display the thumbs up.

Natacia said: “We were prepared, we went and got Wellington boots and an umbrella especially. It’s always good, we come every year.”

Kerry said: “ As long as the fireworks can go off, people are willing to come and they were willing to come today.

"They couldn’t postpone it with so many other events going on next weekend.”