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ROCKETING insurance costs and falling volunteer numbers have led to the demise of a 30-year tradition, with the cancellation of this year's renowned Great Massingham fireworks display.
The Guy Fawkes night display at the village's Station Road playing field attracted crowds of up to 7,000 at its most popular and raised thousands for village charity groups.
But, villager Robert Whitwood, who took on the organisation of last year's event in a bid to save the tradition, saw terrible weather leaving it making a profit of only £500 for an investment of £14,000.
TIME FOR CHANGE
Mr Whitwood said: "There are a lot of people in the village who are quite sad because it was obviously something the village had for some time. But many have accepted it has reached the end of its time and it is now time for new things and a new era."
Insurance for the event cost £400 three years ago, but last year it was more than five times that at more than £2,000.
The display was originally put on by the village's playgroup to raise funds for new equipment on the playing field. It took 60 to 70 people to stage the event, which last year included 600 fireworks.
Mr Whitwood, of Mill Lane, said: "Unfortunately, because of the society we live in where people make claims, the insurance cost has spiralled up and up.
"That, together with a dwindling number of people to put on the event has meant that we can't keep it going.
"I don't think people realise it was organised by volunteers. It was not a commercial thing and has been put on for all these years by ordinary people.
"A lot of people have given up a good deal of their free time to put on that entertainment and it would be nice to say 'thank you' to them."
Mr Whitwood is now planning to concentrate his efforts on a summer festival which was run for the first time in the village last month.
The Duck Festival raised £2,000 and Mr Whitwood hopes to improve on that next year.
14 September 2006
ROCKETING insurance costs and falling volunteer numbers have led to the demise of a 30-year tradition, with the cancellation of this year's renowned Great Massingham fireworks display.
The Guy Fawkes night display at the village's Station Road playing field attracted crowds of up to 7,000 at its most popular and raised thousands for village charity groups.
But, villager Robert Whitwood, who took on the organisation of last year's event in a bid to save the tradition, saw terrible weather leaving it making a profit of only £500 for an investment of £14,000.
TIME FOR CHANGE
Mr Whitwood said: "There are a lot of people in the village who are quite sad because it was obviously something the village had for some time. But many have accepted it has reached the end of its time and it is now time for new things and a new era."
Insurance for the event cost £400 three years ago, but last year it was more than five times that at more than £2,000.
The display was originally put on by the village's playgroup to raise funds for new equipment on the playing field. It took 60 to 70 people to stage the event, which last year included 600 fireworks.
Mr Whitwood, of Mill Lane, said: "Unfortunately, because of the society we live in where people make claims, the insurance cost has spiralled up and up.
"That, together with a dwindling number of people to put on the event has meant that we can't keep it going.
"I don't think people realise it was organised by volunteers. It was not a commercial thing and has been put on for all these years by ordinary people.
"A lot of people have given up a good deal of their free time to put on that entertainment and it would be nice to say 'thank you' to them."
Mr Whitwood is now planning to concentrate his efforts on a summer festival which was run for the first time in the village last month.
The Duck Festival raised £2,000 and Mr Whitwood hopes to improve on that next year.
14 September 2006