BONFIRE NIGHT!!!

Remember! remember! the fifth of November. "Gis a penny for the guy, missus". "If you ain't got a penny a 'apenny will do, if you ain't got a 'apenny then God bless you." Such were the cries of our gang when we trundled the guy in an old pram around Alresford in my schooldays in the 30s.trying to raise enough coppers to buy fireworks for 'bonfire night'. We always had a big bonfire on the Rec.(our local recreation ground in Grange Road).

For several weeks beforehand we would scour the woods for broken tree branches and pester the shop-keepers for old wooden crates, orange boxes and tea chests and any other rubbish that was to hand to build our bonfire. We enlisted the aid of a helpful Dad to bring a ladder and place the guy on top, then all was ready for the big night. We didn't have a lot of money to spend on fireworks but between us and with sixpence from Dad and sixpence from Grandad we usually managed to put on a fairly good display. The local ironmongers was our source of supply, and we would all crowd into his shop to choose from the array of Roman Candles, Catherine Wheels, Jumping jacks, Squibs, Rockets, and of course the ever popular Sparklers.("Don't you get any bangers", Mum would say, "you will frighten your sister"), but we always did get a few, and had to make the excuse, "It wasn't me Mum, it was Jimmy Smith".

Mum always made a generous supply of bonfire toffee which she gave out to the gang with the warning," now make sure you suck it or if you try to crunch it you will break your teeth." I can still remember that lemony, burnt sugar taste.

We used to throw big potatoes into the base of the fire and when it had burned down we would get Dads garden rake and search for them among the embers. Nothing tasted better than a smokey baked spud in those days. How times have changed, Guy Fawkes night was a one off then. Now it seems to last for weeks. Am I jealous? I think not. This old Alresford lad prefers a bit of peace and quiet these days.

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