Sparklers, Catherine wheels and Roman candles lit up the sky over a Shropshire village last night when a much-missed annual firework display returned thanks to the Friends of Oakmeadow and a donation from Tarmac.
Hundreds of families turned out at Oakmeadow Primary and Nursery School in Bayston Hill for the traditional bonfire night extravaganza, after Tarmac’s Bayston Hill Quarry donated £1,000 towards the display.
The event, which was run by the Friends of Oakmeadow charity, also raised money for the school.
Samantha Hill, Head of School at Oakmeadow, said: “The fireworks event is our main fundraiser and a huge event for the local community. We are so grateful that Tarmac is supporting us this year.
“Due to the pandemic, the Friends of Oakmeadow have not been able to host their usual fundraising events for the past 18 months. The donation from Tarmac meant we were able to put on this much-loved event and start to rebuild the funds that mean so much to the school and its pupils.”
The Friends of Oakmeadow donate thousands of pounds to the school each year, helping to pay for trips to the Christmas pantomime at Theatre Severn, wet play boxes for classrooms, Christmas crafts and more – as well as funding a number of larger projects including an Astro Turf stage area and contributing to an outdoor classroom.
Jack Brookes, assistant works manager at Tarmac’s Bayston Hill Quarry, said: “We always try to help the community where we can and are delighted to have been able to contribute to the school fireworks display.
“It was great to see the whole community turn out to enjoy a spectacularly-bright display. We would remind everyone that fireworks and bonfires can be dangerous, so please observe all the safety rules so that everyone can enjoy Guy Fawkes night safely.”
Inset picture: ack row – Juliette Jones (PTA), Mrs Sam Hill (headteacher Oakmeadow Primary and Nursery School.), Jack Brookes (assistant works manager Tarmac Bayston Hill Quarry) and Deborah Evans (PTA); front row – George and Ellis Alton (left) and Harry and Oliver Evans (right).
