The Bradley Stoke Journal

A record crowd of nearly 8,000 surrounded the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke, last night for the Bradley Stoke Town Council Firework Display.

Now in its ninth year, the annual display has grown to be one of the largest in the Bristol area and the public were delighted with a 20 minute display described by many as “better than ever”.

No entrance fee is charged for the event but public generosity saw £4,894 raised for the Mayor’s charities through bucket collection’s carried out by volunteers from Little Stoke Social Club, local Air Cadets as well as the two benefiting organisations – the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group and the Bradley Stoke Scouts.

Also in attendance, representing HM The Queen, was Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire Robert Bernays who congratulated the Town Council for putting on the event before leading the assembled masses in a countdown to the launch [audio clip].

Speaking after the event Town Mayor, Cllr Ben Walker thanked the Vice Lord-Lieutenant for attending and paid tribute to the work of council staff and volunteers for putting on the event, saying:

“I’m very grateful to Robert Bernays for finding time to attend our display, a lot of hard work goes in to planning and marshalling the event and it means a lot to those involved behind the scenes that it is recognised externally as one of the county’s big events.”

Adding:

“I should like to thank all the staff and volunteers that helped make the event a success as well as, of course, the good people of Bradley Stoke who gave so generously to my chosen charities.”

More photos on PicasaWeb: album; slideshow (The Journal)

The highlight of a busy weekend in Bradley Stoke will be Sunday’s annual renewal of the Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display organised by the Town Council.

As in previous years, entrance to the display is free but there will be an entry point collection for the Mayor’s charities, which this year are the Bradley Stoke Scout Group and the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group.

Gates at the Jubilee Centre site [map] open at 4:30pm with hot food served from 4:45pm. The display is due to be started by Robert Bernays, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, at 6pm.

Visitors are asked to walk to the venue as no car parking will be available at the Jubilee Centre or on neighbouring streets, with the exception of disabled badge holders.

Those arriving by car are advised to park at the Willow Brook Centre (Tesco Extra) [BS32 8EF, map] and walk to the display.

The Jubilee Centre is also the venue for an interesting event on Saturday (5th November) – the Bradley Stoke Fashion Fayre, organised by SITA. The show, which runs from 10am until 3pm promises to demonstrate “inventive ways of making the most of your wardrobe”. A range of charity shops and vintage retailers will also be in attendance.

Read on to find out about more events this weekend »

[Advertising Feature] The Fireworks Shop in Patchway, North Bristol, has opened again for business and will be trading through to Monday 7th November.

Whether you are having a Guy Fawkes party at home or taking fireworks to your friends, don’t miss the opportunity to buy all your specialist, display-quality, fireworks from our store at Coniston Road (just off Patchway Roundabout) [map].

We sell everything from large single rockets to multi-shot cakes, single ignition and selection boxes, down to simple sparklers. We have the lot – all at discount prices!

Be the envy of your neighbours and have your own private display at home. Fun for all the family.

The Patchway Fireworks Shop is fully licensed and registered with South Gloucestershire Council for the sale of fireworks.

Trading hours are 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday, until Monday 7th November 2011.

All fireworks sold comply with EU legislation and meet British Standard BS 82762525.

Have a great Guy Fawkes night and remember to be safe and to follow the Firework Code.

More: How to find the Patchway Fireworks Shop »

Bradley Stoke’s 2011 firework display, organised by the Town Council, is to be attended by a representative of the Queen.

The countdown for the display, which will take place at the Jubilee Centre on Sunday 6th November 2011, will be carried out by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Robert Bernays.

The news, proudly announced by Mayor Ben Walker on the cover of the recent Town Council newsletter, follows a decision to keep the display at the Jubilee Centre despite the Senior Health and Safety Officer for last year’s event recommending that it be moved to another site because of crowd safety concerns.

Cllr Mark Forsyth said last year that the event had “become too successful for its own good”, adding: “we could have ended up with a ‘situation’”.

The Town Council, however, has since decided that it OK for the show to go on at the same venue. This year, the fireworks will be launched from the upper football pitch, leaving the lower football pitch available for spectators.

Read on to find out more about Robert Bernays OBE »

The Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display, held annually at the Jubilee Centre, may have to move to another site if health and safety concerns arising from the large attendance cannot be resolved, the Town Council heard last week.

Crowds at the event reached five to six thousand in 2009, when numbers were swelled due to the cancellation of the popular Clifton Downs display and similar numbers were seen at this year’s renewal.

Cllr Mark Forsyth, Senior Health and Safety Officer for this year’s event, warned that the event had “become too successful for its own good”, adding: “We could have ended up with a ‘situation’”.

Councillors heard that the need to keep crowds off the public roads surrounding the venue led to a potential over-crowding issues within the car park of the Jubilee Centre.

Although the artificial pitch at the site had been made available to spectators, there were insufficient marshals to guide people in there, claimed one Councillor.

Summing up, Cllr Forsyth said:

“With my health and safety hat on, I wouldn’t do it again. That’s my professional advice.”

Read on to discover the options discussed by Councillors »

Bradley Stoke’s ever-popular Town Council Fireworks Display takes place this year on Sunday (7th November 2010) at the Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road [map].

As in previous years, entrance to the display is free but there will an entry point collection for St Peter’s Hospice, Mayor Ben Walker’s nominated charity.

Last year’s display was watched by a bumper crowd estimated at between five and six thousand and it raised £4,250 for the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA) and the Bristol Dyslexia Centre.

With the costs of the fireworks borne by the Council, every penny collected at the event goes to charity.

Gates open at 4:30pm with hot food served from 4:45pm. The display itself starts at 6pm.

No alcohol is allowed on site and sparklers are also forbidden.

Visitors are asked to walk to the venue as no car parking will be available at the Jubilee Centre or on neighbouring streets, with the exception of disabled badge holders.

Those arriving by car are advised to park at the Willow Brook Centre (Tesco Extra) [BS32 8EF, map] and walk to the display.

Related links:

• Firework displays in and around Bradley Stoke (2010)
• Photos from the 2009 Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display