Gosh, I hope he wakes up... then he’ll be in trouble!’ I listened to two small boys standing as close to the fire as they could bear, while Guy Fawkes’ face caught fire, and he gradually disappeared in a pall of smoke. To get him on top of the pyre, a gang of enthusiastic children had carried him, shoulder high across the grass to a huge bonfire.

It was a collection of sticks, planks and garden waste, two years in the making.

Then an adult had climbed the pile on a ladder, and with a great deal of pushing and shoving, balanced the Guy on his lofty perch.

While most parents clustered around the mulled wine some distance away, a few hardy individuals kept watch, in case a child came too close.

There were so many accidents waiting to happen, but thankfully we all left full of sausages and chilli, with a toffee apple and not a bandage.

The organisation and planning by the parents had been masterful – but still there’s always a danger of a Catherine wheel spinning off its nail or a banger flipping down a wellie at a home event.

The night before I’d joined the crowds by South Park for the Oxford Round Table’s 47th Annual Charity Fireworks. The day’s rain had not deterred the crowds, and the firework display was magnificent.

Given the very reasonable ticket price, which included a rich cluster of good things: the bonfire and fireworks, live music, a fun fair and hot food stalls, I wondered if it was the depth of the recession – or something else – which swelled the numbers of spectators in front of London Place, avoiding the entrance ticket?

Despite the freeloading, there was evidence of generosity too. A group of 16 volunteers from the Oxford Prostate Cancer Support Group raised £1,640 from the crowds both inside and outside South Parks.

Those of us lucky enough to enjoy the show owe the organisers our thanks. Even more impressive is the fact that the surplus gate money raised is given to even more local charities.

“We’d like to hear from anyone with a fund-raising project coming up or who would be interested in the bucket collection next year. Don’t forget to apply,” Jason Priest, past chairman of Oxford Round Table said.

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