Bonfire __ 07/10/2013 15:41 Page 1
local lIFE
Bonfires, Fireworks and Guy Fawkes FOLLOWING ON FROM HALLOWEEN IS BONFIRE NIGHT. IT’S A GREAT WEEK FOR FUN AND FIREWORKS.
WORDS: MICHELLE HARRIS
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or those not familiar with the history of Bonfire Night and to quickly précis, Guy Fawkes, (Guido Fawkes) born on 13 April 1570 and died on 31 January 1606. A soldier who had fought in Spain (hence changing his name to Guido) he sided with Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch reformers. He tried to instigate support for a Catholic rebellion in England but was unsuccessful. Subsequent to his introduction to Robert Catesby, together with other conspirators John Wright, omas Wintour, omas Percy, Robert Keyes, omas Bates, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby and Francis Tresham, collectively they devised a plot to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of England's Parliament on 5 November 1605, thereby killing all present and also assassinating King James I of England and VI of Scotland. eir intention was to replace the King with a Catholic monarch. Having secured a lease for the cellar underneath the House of Lords, Guy Fawkes (as a former soldier) was given the responsibility of guarding the explosives, but the authorities had received an anonymous ‘tip-off ’ and searched Westminster Palace in the early hours of November 5th, 1605 and found him there with the thirty-six barrels of gunpowder. He was subsequently questioned (tortured) – he was sentenced to death by being hung, drawn and quartered. However he jumped off the scaffold, broke this neck and therefore spared himself this most heinous demise. So on that basis, every year, we have a Bonfire Night. Some fires will include the burning of an effigy (named appropriately Guy) but generally, it’s a firework display.
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If you intend to host your own Bonfire Night – safety guidance and recommendations can be found on the following Health and Safety website: www.hse.gov.uk If interested in attending a Guy Fawkes evening – Royal Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Abbey are hosting a terrific event which is also easily accessible from all our areas from Wanstead to Epping and not too far from Brentwood too. GUY FAWKES EVENT AND FIREWORKS Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1JY. A fireworks celebration at this historic site. Children will be able to meet the ghost of Guy Fawkes and enjoy the children's fun fair. At approximately 7.00 pm there will be a spectacular firework finale by SMArt Pyrotechnics. Watch as the fireworks dance through the sky in stunning sequences, the display will be packed full of colour and effects providing a fitting end to the ever popular Guy Fawkes experience. All regular exhibitions will be open. Dates: Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November 2013 Time: e site will open at 3.00pm with the fireworks display scheduled to begin at 7.00pm. Telephone: 01992 707370 www.royalgunpowdermills.com Fireworks are always exciting, lighting up the sky with displays of colour, sparkle and bang – so if it’s cold, wrap up warm and enjoy the spectacle….