UK Pyrotechnics Society

The Story of Gunpowder

Bob — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:38:26 +0000

Not long since Phil made an appearance, last week our safety officer Gareth Barnes featured on BBC1′s The One Show. In an episode revolving around fireworks and gunpowder, Gareth was demonstrating a small part of what he does at his specialist pyrotechnic manufacture company in the UK. The piece also covers the history of gunpowder use in warfare, industry, and more recently the fireworks we know and love.

You can still view the episode online for a few days here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016vx2w/hd/The_One_Show_04_11_2011/ (Gunpowder story starts at 10:12)

Photo Copyright BBC 2011

UKPS Member on BBC’s The One Show

Bob — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:00:13 +0000

UKPS Vice Chair Phil Dunford has been gracing our screens again this week on BBC1′s The One Show, on Tuesday 4th October. He was discussing the history of the humble match, and the inventor of the friction match, British pharmacist John Walker.

You can still see the episode on iPlayer here until Tuesday 11th October:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b015tyl9/?t=11m15s

Photo Copyright BBC 2011

2011 AGM Announced

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:17:12 +0000

I’m delighted to announce that our 2011 AGM will be held on Saturday 9th April 2011 at the Old Barn, Esholt Lane, Baildon, Bradford, BD17 7RJ.

Please arrive from 13.30 for a 14.00 start.

Paul and Jimmy from Epic Fireworks will be our keynote speakers.

There will also be a hands on CAT 3 fusing session, talks and demonstrations and lots to see and do. The day will end as always with a CAT 4 firework display.

Full details of the day’s events can be found in our forum here.

The old barn function room

There is no charge and all are welcome. Please come and bring along any friends who are interested in fireworks.

UKPS Members in BBC 2 programme

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:41:01 +0000

UKPS members at Blists Hill

UKPS Members Steve Miller and Phil Dunford have recently appeared in the prestigious BBC2 series, ‘The Victorian Pharmacy’.

Steve shows how fireworks were made before the 1875 Explosives act and Phil demonstrates the evolution of matches.

The program is available on iPlayer until the 16th of August Programme Website

When the series is complete, a DVD will be available from the BBC.

UKPS win major Grant

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:14:33 +0000

The UKPS has won a grant of £2500 from the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) towards the rebuilding of the Wells sheds at Amberley.

This is excellent news and a real boost for the project.

The money must be used for rebuilding the old sheds, but it means that the £1500 we have already raised can go towards the creation of the new museum building.

We will be visiting Amberley shortly to draw up final plans to submit for planning permission.

Exciting times..

ps – this does not mean we can stop fund-raising!

Rare book donated for Amberley Funds

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:52:08 +0000

A 67-paged book (with 15 illustrations) on the fascinating character, Bernard Wells, written by Alan Wells, is to be auctioned on ebay. Alan has very kindly donated it to the Amberley Project, whereby buildings from the disused Wells factory will be re-erected at the Amberley Industrial Heritage Museum.

Only 20 copies were printed and only two have ever been sold outside the Wells Family, so this is a rare piece of fireworks history.

Bernard was Alan’s uncle and was (among other things) responsible for bringing fireworks to Disney in America.

When the book goes on sale, we will let you know, both here and on the project website.

www.wellsatamberley.org

Wilf Scot to speak at AGM

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:54:15 +0000

The legendary Wilf Scott of Pyrovision will be our guest speaker at our AGM on the 27th March. Don’t miss it!

The Marlborough School
Shipton Road
Woodstock
Oxon
OX20 1LP
Saturday 27th March 2010 – Arrive 13.30 for 14.00 start

Firework Museum Project

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:03:24 +0000

UKPS is pleased to announce “Wells at Amberley”. A project to save some of the original firework buildings from the old factory at Joyce Green and rebuild them as a Fireworks Museum at Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre in Sussex.

We need support both financial and practical. We need to raise about £6000 and we will need a dedicated group of people to do the work.

Full details are on the project website at http://www.wellsatamberley.org/

Please publicise this project and consider what you may be able to do to assist us.

Spark Issue 5 Is Published

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:48:04 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Spark Issue 5 has been published.

This is a bumper 36 page edition with something for everyone.

They were posted to members on the 10th October 2009.

Due to the current postal disputes we cannot be sure when they will be delivered. However, all members who have registered an email address with us have been sent a PDF file of the magazine.

Date for 2010 AGM

Phil Dunford - UKPS Vice Chair — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:33:19 +0000

The date for the next AGM will be Saturday 27th March 2010.

It will held at Woodstock, just North of Oxford, hopefully a good central location that lot’s of people can get to.

We plan to invite some high-profile speakers and have many other interesting events.

Please put this date in your diary – more details to follow.

Hopefully we will have even more people attending than last year.