Posted By John Webster For several years our local Rotary Club has organised the town bonfire and fireworks display. Due attention has been given to safety, we co-operate fully with emergency services and members of the Coastguard team (trained in the storage, handling and use of pyrotechnics) have always set up and set off the fireworks. Now our insurers have imposed strict new conditions, including that the fireworks must be done by a "specialist" company. We cannot cite the coastguards, as they are acting as volunteers in their private capacity. Employing a firm to come to our islands for our small event would be prohibitavely expensive. We have considered setting up our own "specialist company", but of course we would need at least one employee to have had "specialist training". Does anybody else have any experience in this area (eg as event organiser, insurer, firework company)? Is training available and, crucially, where? How do other public displays manage as I don't expect they will all be done by a specialist company. It's probably too late to save this year's event from cancellation, though I hope not, but at least we may be able to do something again for next year. John

Posted By Ken Taylor You could try asking the CBI's Explosives Industry Group (www.eig.org.uk), RoSPA (0121 248 2000), or the DTI (who publish guidance for firework displays). When I was involved with local authority displays, we had insurance from Zurich Insurers - but that was for displays fired by professional companies although controlled and stewarded as part of larger events by Council staff. Another thought is that some Fairground operators include accompanying firework displays (eg John Carter's Steam Fair); perhaps the Showmen's Guild could point you in the right direction. By the way, how do they get insurance for those rusty old cars and taxis on Alderney these days?

Posted By Ken Taylor If we are having the wider debate about who should have access to fireworks, whilst sharing Bernard's concern and wish for greater controls, I feel that we could restrict them to licensed, trained and competent people rather than just professional companies. From experience, a number of these rely upon sub-contractors around the 5th of November and I can recall one occasion when a display booked through a well-known company was actually fired by a local Scout troop. We should take into account that the display under consideration is to be fired by the Coastguard with co-operation from the emergency services! Some fire authorities in England were experimenting with a voluntary licensing system for local organisers with certificates, etc. I wonder whether this idea has reached as far North as Jim yet.

Posted By John Webster Thanks everybody for your comments and advice. I have just heard that we have managed to persuade the insurers that what they really needed was "competent persons" and not necessarily a specialist company. They have accepted that persons who have received relevent training- i.e. from HM Coastguard- are competent to fire pyrotechnics. Common sense has finally prevailed, and the kids of Orkney will get to see their firework display after all (weather permitting!) Of course, not if everyone had the same view as Bernard. Our nearest football stadium is about 120miles and 5 hours travelling away. The whole point, surely, about any health & safety measure is to make things as safe as reasonably practicable - not to abolish any potentially hazardous activity. Bernard's philosophy is tantamount to a ban on anyone in remote and rural areas or who cannot pay a substantial entrance fee ever enjoying the sight and sound of fireworks, however well and safely organised the display. I would, however, welcome the idea of licencing organisations - both professional and voluntary - to conduct displays. This would ensure that certain minimum standards were met. Regards John PS Ken, car insurance? Whats that? Who needs car insurance when nobody's going to nick it anyway! :-) You must be remembering the "Old Bangers" thread on the old forum