UK Pyrotechnics Society

2013 AGM Announced (UPDATE)

Bob — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:59:24 +0000

Update (22/03/2013): The South West is currently suffering from heavy rain and there are a number of flood warnings in place. If you are travelling to the AGM please bear this in mind by allowing plenty of time and checking for traffic news: http://www.theaa.com/traffic-news/index.jsp

We’re please to announce that this year’s AGM will be held on Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Crewkerne, Somerset. As our first one in the south west, we’re hoping to see some new faces who haven’t managed to attend previous events.

Update: The running order has now been released as follows:

AGM Agenda (subject to change)
1.00pm	AGM official business
1.30pm	Alan Morley MSc BSc MIExpE (president of the Institute of Explosives Engineers) talks about the Institute.
2.00pm	Phil Dunford AIExpE – A brief history of fireworks.
2.30pm	Chris Clarke, Director of Sonning Fireworks talks about his company and their Pyromusicals.
3.00pm	Break
3.30pm	Steve Miller MIExpE – Pyromusicals ‘The Old Fashioned Way’. How to do it with a CD player and a stopwatch.
4.00pm	Paul Dack – Pyromusicals ‘The New Fashioned Way’. How to do it with a Fire One system.
4.30pm	Chris Clarke – Pros and cons of different firing systems.
4.50pm	Display setup – volunteers required
7.00pm	Closing Fireworks Display
7.30pm	Clear up and pack down by volunteers
8.30pm	Social/Evening meal (not provided).

The AGM will take place at:

The Henhayes Centre
South Street Car Park
Crewkerne
Somerset
TA18 8DA

Keep an eye on the website and forum for further announcements:
http://www.pyrosociety.org.uk/forum/topic/6552-2013-agm-announced/

Sidney Alford’s AGM Presentation

Bob — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:46:31 +0000

If you weren’t able to attend our 2012 AGM (and even if you were) you can now view Sidney Alford’s full presentation on our YouTube channel. His talk is a fascinating and funny look at his life in the pyrotechnics industry, from childhood interests to running his own specialist explosives company.

Sidney’s Keynote AGM Presentation

You can also find videos of the explosive shaped charge demonstrations, and the annual fireworks display, both from the same day of the AGM.

UKPS Represented at the Home Office

Bob — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 11:29:46 +0000

As many of our members will know, the UKPS has been involved since 2009 in the Explosives Legislative Review (ELR), a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) review of existing explosives regulations in the UK. The UKPS’ involvement is aimed at getting clarification over certain areas of current legislation, in particular The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (MSER) regarding hobbyist non-commercial fireworks manufacture, a popular activity among our membership.

UKPS members Wayne Robshaw and Richard Harwood recently represented the UKPS at the latest stage of this process, a meeting at the Home Office involving the HSE and members of the Royal Institution of Great Britain to discuss MSER Regulation 9(2)(a).

The exact details of the meeting cannot yet be published, as is normal with these processes, but the outcome was very positive and all parties came away with various action points to follow up on. The next step for Wayne is an ELR coordination group meeting in Bootle in October.

The involvement of the UKPS at such high levels of legislation consultation are a testament to the hard work of Wayne, Richard and many other of our members, and a example of the rising profile of the UKPS within the industry.

Many thanks to all those who have given up their time and skills to present the UKPS in such a professional light. Keep an eye out on the related forums for ongoing updates and hopefully more good news in the future.

Firework Events for August and September 2012

Bob — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:33:02 +0000

Even with November a while away yet, there are still plenty of opportunities to see some great firework displays across the country. Over the next couple of months there are several firework competition events, where you get a chance to see a number of different displays fired at one event, an absolute must for any firework fanatic.

So here is a quick list of some of the bigger ones you’ll find, if you know of any more do let us know on the forums.

Saturday 4th August – Firework Champions
Stanford Hall, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
One of four “Firework Champions” events organised by MLE Pyrotechnics. Experience 3 displays from competing teams, followed by a finale display from MLE themselves. A great family evening out, take a picnic and enjoy!
Adult tickets from £15. More information and tickets available here.

Saturday 11th August – Firework Champions
Capesthorne Hall, Siddlington, Cheshire
One of four “Firework Champions” events organised by MLE Pyrotechnics. Experience 3 displays from competing teams, followed by a finale display from MLE themselves. A great family evening out, take a picnic and enjoy!
Adult tickets from £15. More information and tickets available here.

Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th August – The British Firework Champion of Champions
Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth, Devon
The British Firework Championships is an annual event set across the mouth of the river Plym, and features six companies competing across two nights to put on the best 10 minute display each. This year sees the winners of the last six competitions competing to be titled the “Champion of Champions”, ensuring it will be an excellent event on both nights.
FREE to attend. More information available here.

Saturday 18th August – Firework Champions
Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Leicestershire
One of four “Firework Champions” events organised by MLE Pyrotechnics. Experience 3 displays from competing teams, followed by a finale display from MLE themselves. A great family evening out, take a picnic and enjoy!
Adult tickets from £15. More information and tickets available here.

Saturday 1st September – Firework Champions
Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire
One of four “Firework Champions” events organised by MLE Pyrotechnics. Experience 3 displays from competing teams, followed by a finale display from MLE themselves. A great family evening out, take a picnic and enjoy! This year the UKPS will have a stall at Eastnor, a great chance to meet some of our members, find out about what we do and the events we run, and also see some pyro equipment and dummy fireworks up close and personal. Do come along and say hello, you can find out more about this on the forum page. Members should also hopefully get the opportunity to “walk the line” and see the display setup up close.
Adult tickets from £15. More information and tickets available here.

Saturday 1st September – UK Festival of Fireworks
Catton Hall, Derbyshire
Four displays in one evening from three UK and one international company, all set to music. This year’s teams: Parente Fireworks (Italy), Merlin Fireworks, Skyburst and Jubilee Fireworks. Take along a picnic and enjoy a great family-friendly evening.
Adult tickets from £24. More information and tickets available here.

Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September – British Musical Firework Championships
Kings Gardens, Southport, Merseyside
Three nights of competing firework displays from some of the country’s top display companies, all synchronised to music. Competing this year are Saltire Fireworks, G Force Fireworks, Komodo Fireworks, Highlight Pyrotechnics, Britannia Fireworks, Phenomenal Fireworks and Celebration Displays.
Adult tickets from £5 per night. More information available here.

Olympic Opening Ceremony Fireworks

Bob — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:28:51 +0000

Congratulations to Kimbolton Fireworks for the amazing display at the Olympics Opening ceremony, a great advert for the UK pyrotechnics industry.

Watch the ceremony in full here, or skip straight to the Olympic rings waterfall sequence here, the Tower Bridge sequence here, and the closing display here.

What did you think of the ceremony and fireworks? Join the discussion on the forum.

Photo Copyright BBC

AGM Line Up – 5th May 2012

Bob — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:52:30 +0000

AGM Agenda (subject to change)
1.00pm	AGM official business
1.30pm	“The Forensic Investigation of Firework Incidents” by Stephen Miller, pyrotechnic special effects expert and our new Chairman
2.00pm	“The UKPS Picture Show” by Phil Dunford, our Vice Chairman, covering the events of the UKPS over the last few years
2.30pm	Rocket pressing demonstration by Vic
3.00pm	Break
3.15pm	“The Science of Fireworks” by Dr. Chris Bishop, Distinguished Scientist at Microsoft Research and a trustee of the Royal Institution of Great Britain
4.00pm	Roland and Sidney Alford of Alford Technologies, specialists in counter-IED, munition disposal, breaching and explosive demolitions
5.00pm	Alford Technologies live demonstration
5.30pm	Display setup – volunteers required
7.30pm	Evening meal (not provided). There will be a large group heading to a local restaurant, but you are free to do as you wish at this point until the sun sets!
9.00pm	Relocate to school field
9.30pm	Closing Fireworks Display – hand fired by Cat 4 qualified volunteers
10.00pm	Clear up and pack down by volunteers
10.30pm	Pub anyone?

We’re pleased to now announce the full details of events at this year’s AGM.

The AGM is open to all, but non-members are asked to make a £2.50 donation on the day to help us towards the costs of refreshments and venue hire. This event is not to be missed, it’s a great opportunity to meet some like minded enthusiasts, learn from the experts, and see some great fireworks. We hope to see you there!

Venue:
The Marlborough School
Shipton Road
Woodstock
Oxon
OX20 1LP

Saturday 5th May
12.30pm arrival for 1.00pm start.

To join the conversation before the event, arrange lifts etc. and see who is attending, head over to the AGM forum thread.

2012 AGM Announced

Bob — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:10:53 +0000

We’re delighted to announce that the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the UK Pyrotechnics Society will take place on Saturday 5th May, as we return to a previous and most successful venue:

The Marlborough School
Shipton Road
Woodstock
Oxon
OX20 1LP

We will be arranging a full day of guest speakers, talks and also practical demonstrations. We already have two very special guest speakers lined up; Dr. Sidney Alford and Roland Alford of Alford Technologies. You may well recognise them from many TV documentaries, news reports, science programmes and anywhere explosives expertise are required. You can see Sidney in action in this video from just one of the episodes of the BBC’s “Bang Goes The Theory” in which he appeared. You would be a fool to miss their talk at this year’s AGM, so make sure you are there!

We are also very pleased to announce that Stephen Miller M.I.Exp.E. is to be appointed the next chairman of the UK Pyrotechnics Society. All other appointments remain, and together, we shall be outlining our plans for the future of the society, of which YOU, our members, will be playing a massive part.

The AGM as always is free to UKPS members. Friends, family and the general public are also welcome to attend, but we will be asking them to make a voluntary donation of £2.50 each to help us cover the cost of refreshments and the venue hire. More details of the AGM will be posted here in due course, and you can also follow the discussion on the forum.

As tradition commands, proceedings will close with a professional firework display and we envisage food and drinks afterwards at a nearby pub to provide a networking opportunity and a nice end to the day.

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)

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

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.