Remember, remember…
Thousands enjoy town’s firework procession
WOKINGHAM remembered the fifth of November … and that the annual torchlit procession started from Shute End this year.
Regeneration works in the town centre meant that the parade to Cantley Park was moved for one year only.
Thousands of people packed into the borough council’s car park to take part in the annual fundraising event, before making their way to Cantley to enjoy a funfair and food ahead of the massive pyrotechnic display, which was once again set to music.
Heading up the procession was seven-year-old Tom Graham, who won a drawing contest won by the Wokingham Fireworks trust.
David Gold, the group’s chairman, said: “It was a close run thing with some other entries being more colourful but the panel felt Tom’s drawing encompassed a sense of place, time and occasion – the political dynamic between the bomb and the sceptre, as one judge described it.
“Apparently Tom recently learned about the history of the Gunpowder Plot at school, which influenced his drawing.”
Tom was joined by his Dad Will and sister Ellie, as well as the borough mayor Cllr Rob Stanton and town mayor Cllr Peter Lucey and members of the Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band.
The fireworks were set to music and Mr Gold said that the thousands who attended enjoyed the night.
“It all went really well and it came together nicely. It really was quite special to see all those torches in the street,” he said.
“The display was exceptional and the finale was spectacular. It involved an 8kg firework that flew 1,000ft into the air.
“By and large, everyone who saw the show was pleased.”
The event was organised by members of Wokingham Rotary Club, Easthampstead Rotary Club, Wokingham Lions Club, Windsor Forest Unicorn Club and Thames West Unicorn Club and it will raise funds for Wokingham In Need, Topic of Cancer, Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service,
First Days and Building For The Future.
The final total was not yet known as we went to press.
“Every penny raised is for charity,” Mr Gold said.