Barnstaple Round Table fireworks are back – bigger and better

The popular Barnstaple Round Table Fireworks events is back bigger and better than ever on Sunday, November 5.

Organiser are hoping for another boomer turnout and support from the town after the success of last year, when the event was able to donate £3,000 each to its chosen charities Care for Kids and Encompass.

This year the event at Barnstaple Rugby Club in Mill Road has selected Children’s Hospice South West and Families in Grief as its chosen charities.

The display is one of the eagerly awaited family events on the Barnstaple calendar and this year the gates open at 5.30pm, with the event starting at 7pm.

It normally attracts more than 6,000 people, with hot and cold refreshments provided by the rugby club and The Voice FM provides public address and music.

It is the largest public firework display in North Devon and is a tradition Barnstaple Round table has been hosting and organising for more than 50 years.

Barnstaple Round Table chairman Jack Shortridge said: “I still can’t get over the success of last year’s event where we were able to donate £3,000 each to Care for Kids and Encompass both North Devon based charities. We hope again to have another successful event supporting Children’s Hospice South West and Families in Grief.

“It would be very difficult to put on an event of this size without the commitment and support from Round Table members and other neighbouring clubs from Bideford and Ilfracombe, who come and support us and a big thank goes to Barnstaple Rugby Club and Two Tiger fireworks display, who always put on a great event.”

Children’s Hospice South West has been caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions by providing children's hospice and professional family support services for more than 30 years. It provides specialist palliative care, respite for the whole family, a sibling service for brothers and sisters, emergency support, end of life care and a bereavement service.

CHSW fundraiser Gubs Hayer said: “We are so pleased Barnstaple Round Table have decided to support CHSW this year with the fireworks. It costs around £11 million to keep the three hospices open each year in North Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall.

“Any fundraising both large and small helps to support the children we care for with life limiting conditions here in the South West. Thank you so much for your support.”

Families in Grief is a relatively a small local charity helping children, young people and their parents or carers to manage their feelings of loss after the death of someone close to them.

“We will all know grief at some stage of our lives, but sometimes we can struggle on our own.” says Naomi Jefferies, FIG CEO.

“Thanks to the generosity of local funders and organisations such as Barnstaple Round Table, we are able to be alongside those bereaved families who need us the most.

“Being chosen as one of the charity beneficiaries of the fireworks event will help us to maintain and develop our services - and to hopefully extend our reach - so that more bereaved families know where to turn when they need support. Thank you.”

Tickets for the firework display are available in advance from the Barnstaple Round Table Facebook page or at the gate on the day.

Barnstaple Round Table are always on the lookout for new members and is a non-political, non-sectarian association open to men between the ages of 18 to 45, from any profession or trade and the key objective of the association is to empower each individual to make a positive impact at home, work and in his community.

You can contact the club at info@barnstapleroundtable.co.uk