Fireworks Display on Saturday 7 November
This year’s Free Charity Bonfire and Fireworks Display in Winchester on Saturday 7 November promises to be better than ever, with a whole evening of family entertainment lined-up in the company of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Winchester, BBC Radio Solent’s Julian Clegg, the Adjutant General's Band (Provided by Winchester Rotary Club), and officers from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.The entertainment will start at 6pm outside Winchester Guildhall on the Broadway. At 6.30pm, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Winchester will lead the now traditional torchlight procession around the City. This year, the procession will include the Adjutant General's Band and officers from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (complete with a fire engine!).
Anyone can join the procession which will follow a route that passes through the High Street, Middle Brook Street, St George's Street, Jewry Street, and North Walls; finally ending up behind the leisure centre at River Park where the lighting of the bonfire will take place at 7.15pm (compered by Julian Clegg from BBC Radio Solent’s Breakfast Show).
The spectacular Fireworks display will then begin at 7:45pm.
Twenty thousand people attended last year’s display which raised more than £50,000. Over the years, the event has raised more than a quarter of a million pounds.
What many people don’t realise is that the annual event is organised by a team of just 15 dedicated volunteers from Winchester Round Table who prepare everything in their spare time in an effort to raise as much money as possible for a wide range of good causes.
Local businesses and organisations also support the event by taking out advertisements in a programme produced by the volunteers. This programme is then sold door-to-door in the weeks leading up to the event to raise even more money for charity.
Cllr George Beckett, Leader of Winchester City Council, said: “The City Council is proud to be supporting this annual event for Winchester. Once again, the admirable dedication of volunteers from Winchester Round Table, together with the support of local businesses and the generosity of local people, will help to raise thousands of pounds for local charities at a time when they really need our help. What’s more, it offers people and families from Winchester and beyond a chance to get together and enjoy a memorable evening of free entertainment”
The event will help local charities including: Mountbatten Hospice, Boas Project, Blue Apple Theatre, Relate, Age Concern, The Big Sleep Out, Dyslexia Action, and many more. Furthermore, each £250 raised enables a separate "Cash for Causes" donation which goes towards helping individuals with a specific need – this includes helping young people to train for a career as a carer, and helping people with learning difficulties to read and write.