Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go to the Rotary Club fireworks for family reasons, but so you can move back from the edge of your seats, I asked the Rotary Club what happened. Fortunately they were happy to oblige and I pass it on to you.

The threat of showers did not deter the community of Lymington and Pennington from attending the 11^th annual fireworks display organised by Lymington Rotary Club. About  2,700 people enjoyed the finest display yet, created by local fireworks specialist Graham Butler.  Rotarian Larry Anthony said “Graham is a great asset, and each year he provides us with a display which is enjoyed by everybody. The event is a real community effort supported by the New Forest District Council, Lymington and  Pennington Town Council, Pennyfarthing Estates, Farwells, Lymington Precision Engineering, John Pyatt together with the local the Scouts, Guides, Army Cadet Force and the Air Cadets.”

Club President, Janet Durrant said “Our aims are to provide a safe way for families to enjoy Bonfire Night whilst raising money for the support of local charities. This year’s event raised £8,000, and  I am immensely proud of the hard work our Club does in behalf of the community”.

Assuring the safety of large crowds requires an effective communications network, and the event saw the public debut of Club’s mobile HQ and Communications Centre – the brainchild of Rotarian Jim Brennan. Whilst visiting the new vehicle, the Mayor of Lymington, Cllr. Jan Hawker, drew the winning ticket for a draw sponsored by Paultons Park, which has provided the winning family with free family ticket.

So there you are. A loud time was had by all.

Looking ahead there’s more! The next major event in Lymington is the switch on of the lights on 27th November – Not organised by Rotary in case you think I’ve become assimilated!

This is something I don’t know a lot about, but I think I need to find out more, there will be a Yuletide Market on the 9th December with the High Street being closed from St Thomas’s down to New Street. Apparently this is a first and will be a Big Thing. Well, don’t say you weren’t warned. More info as I have it.

So the season of mellow fruitfulness, giant fun-size chocolate bar bags and very loud bangs is upon us. If you can find time to walk in the Forest you’ll be rewarded by the Autumn colours, but according to the forecast, you’d better make it sharpish as it’s due to get a tad windy and wind is the natural enemy of dead and dying leaves. Hopefully wind won’t be an issue on Saturday 7th November as the annual Rotary Firework Extravaganza takes off. To be entirely honest I’m not really sure what the Rotary Club of Lymington do when they’re not letting off fireworks, but there seems to be a symmetry between their name and visual pyrotechnics. OK, maybe that’s just me then…

A nice chap at the club gave me a little background as to why they even bother when bad weather like last year can rather ruin it all. Apparently Rotary runs their fireworks display more than anything else as an option for families to go to a firework display inexpensively, and to prevent the risk of horrific injuries which are suffered by children every year. They also try and make some money which is passed on to local charities. All most commendable.

The fireworks are supplied by Graham Butler who is a local licensed Pyrotechnist. Being told this did make me imagine just how one trains as a Pyrotechnist to obtain a license. Do you start with sparklers and work your way up through bangers, squibs and catherine wheels to the really big stuff? Just wondered. And what’s an extravaganza without food and drink. And trampolines and a bouncy castle and rides for toddlers and a climbing wall. Did I mention food and drink? Hot dogs & burgers, hot and cold drinks, candy floss and toffee apples. And all for a very reasonable cost of £4.00 for adults, £2.00 for children and children under 4 free. I assume that’s the age of the child rather than an unfair levy on families with four or more children.

So it is a real community event run by local people for local people and supported by lots of local businesses which are, in no particular order, New Forest District Council, Lymington and Pennington Town Council, Farwells, Hampshire Constabulary, John Pyatt Concreting, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Peter Cooper Removals (personally highly recommended removal and storage company), Lymington Precision Engineers (who appear to be taking over Lymington one commercial unit at a time!), The Girl Guides, 1308 Squadron Air Training Corps, Army Cadet Force, Billy Cole and above all Graham Butler of Excel Pyrotechnics.

If you aim to go and can’t get there on foot, then you’ll be very pleased to know that parking on the common is free. For a map, CLICK HERE.