Out with the old, in with the new!

This will be the Last Post on our current web site. Sorry to see it go as we've enjoyed being here and keeping you updated with our latest activities. Things move so fast in the digital age that even a site that's only two years old is already outmoded. In the coming week or so we will be switching to an exciting new site which will be at the cutting edge of web technology. We will retain many of the features that have made this site so easy for our customers to navigate but they will be dressed into a sylish, slick and modern new format. Hope to see you there soon!

August is hot hot hot!

Our busiest weekend of the summer took us to three of the most picturesque places in the country, the Lake District, Castle Howard and Torbay. On Saturday night we entertained an audience of 5,000 at the Castle Howard summer proms concert. We're always nervous when working for a new client so it was a great relief when Andrew Wyke, director of the organisers, Musical Associates, phoned up the following day to say it was 'absolutely brilliant'. Dick Budgen and his team used the wide lakeside setting to produce some beautiful sequences to animate the 1812, the Radetsky March & Land of Hope and Glory. On Sunday night the action moved to Ulverston in the Lake District where the reopening of the Sir John Barrow Monument, a 100ft high inland lighthouse on Hoad Hill, drew another huge crowd. This time it was Rino Sampieri and his team who produced another memorable show. Our photographer Hayley Maddin captured the spectacle in this hot shot. On Monday we were supposed to be on the English Riviera but it turned out to be more like the English Rainiera. Torrential downpours and high winds threatened one of the main attractions of Torbay's Royal Regatta week, the annual fireworks extravaganza. But by mid afternoon the skies cleared, the wind dropped and Paul Roberts and his team had the rare treat of near perfect conditions to rock the Riviera. Choreographed to a dance mix including the Black Eyed Peas, Scissors Sisters, Coldplay and Take That, the show produced some stunning sequences, especially the waterfall effects which tumbled from a height of 300ft all the way down to the sea. 'Fantastic' said Regatta secretary Debbie Selley. 'See you next year.' All in all a fabulous weekend, with special thanks to show designers David Willsher and Steve Boothman.

We did it! Garden Party hits £500 hospice target

A big well done to the organisers and an even bigger thank-you to everyone who supported our summer garden party. Rocket Park was festooned with colourful bunting and an archway of balloons created by our beautiful cheerleaders Kate & Hayley (pictured here). Meanwhile Tom’s countless hours of sawing, nailing and painting produced a fantastic range of stalls including a coconut shy, stocks, splat the rat and the thirst-quenching, mouth-watering Brocade Bar & Grill. There was even a bouncy castle. The barbecue did a brisk trade in burgers and hot dogs, as did the cake stall, the tombola and the raffle. Despite the occasional shower everyone had a great time and when we counted up the pennies they came to a very creditable £300. Adding in the £200 donated online by well-wishers we will be handing Keech Hospice Care in Luton a cheque for more than £500. You can see more photos on our flickr page.

An Invitation To The Fantastic Fireworks Garden Party!

Fantastic Fireworks will be hosting a Summer Garden Party on Saturday 14th August 2010 in aid of Keech Hospice Care - and we would love for our wonderful Firers and friends of FF to join us!

Among the attractions will be the 'Brocade Bar & Grill', a Bouncy Castle, Cake & Home Produce stalls, a Bric 'A' Brac stall, Arts & Crafts, A Fun Dog Show, a Tombola, Coconut Shy, Stocks, 'Splat The Rat', Tug O' War, an Egg & Spoon Race and much, much more!

Quality donations for the Tombola or any other stall would be gratefully recieved, and will go along way to helping us reach our target. If you would like to have your own stall on the day, please let me know - all we ask is that you donate 20% of your profits to us for this amazing charity!

Tickets are FREE but numbers are limited, so please book early! (In case of over-subscription, priority will be given to staff & Firers of Fantastic Fireworks). There will be food and drink available on the day at a small charge, plus games and stalls with all the proceeds going to Keech Hospice Care.

For any enquiries about the Garden Party, to request a stall, or to book tickets, please email katem@fantasticfireworks.co.uk

For anyone who can't make it on the day, but would still like to support us from afar, please see our fundraising page - www.justgiving.com/Fantastic-Fireworks-Garden-Party - where even the smallest of donations will be very gladly received.

It's going to be a great event and we are all looking forward to welcoming you on the day! :o)

Sunshine super show!

Astronauts are used to seeing some pretty amazing sights...comets, asteroids, space stations, the earth from space. Now they can add one more, daylight fireworks! The crew from the Space Shuttle joined crowds in glorious sunshine to detonate a spectacular display marking the end of the annual Portsmouth Festivities. Fantastic Fireworks were called in to create a high impact, visual finale to the event which was due to end in broad daylight. We suggested our new range of colour smoke effects combined with a blast of confetti to give the astronauts and the audience an altogether new experience. Pippa Cleary, general manager of Portsmouth Festivities, said afterwards: 'The fireworks were wonderful, truly spectacular. No one quite knew what to expect and we were all stunned by how amazing they were.'

Happy birthday rock star!

It was one of the biggest showbiz parties of the year and we were honoured to be the entertainment, well the outdoor entertainment. The event was a special birthday party for one of rock's most famous and successful artists. It's a shame we can't say who he is but we respect his privacy and were just thrilled to be entertaining someone who has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Special thanks to Steve who designed the display to the star's favourite tunes and to Paul & his team for firing a wonderful show. As his PR manager said afterwards: 'That was ****ing fantastic!'

Icarus flies high in E15

Once in a while we get a show that's a bit different. This year one of our younger firers, Dan Hoffman, is in his final year at East 15 Acting School, studying for a BA in Technical Theatre. As part of their Final Examinations, students are required to offer a Dissertation. Most opt for something relatively small, such as a set model or piece of scenery. Not Dan. He elected to write, produce and perform a 30-minute multimedia spectacular based on the story of Icarus (the one in Greek mythology who flew so close to the sun that his wings melted!) The show utilised a classical soundtrack, a 4-metre metal sculpture, a dozen Varilites, four gas flame dragons, video projection and other effects. Not to mention atmospheric lighting around the lake and along the woodland walk leading to the show site.

And of course there were fireworks! Dan wanted to emphasise dramatic moments throughout the piece with spectacular pyrotechnic effects, and naturally turned to Fantastic Fireworks for help. We were delighted to sponsor this event, donating some of the pyro, helping Dan select fireworks appropriate for each scene, and advising on the risk assessment. In addition, Ian Woodroof from our sister company ConfettiMagic loaned Dan the use of LED lights and gas torches for the woodland walk.

On the day, the fireworks part of the show was rigged by FF Firers Tony Hoffman (Dan's dad) and Dick Budgen*, both donating their time free of charge. What followed was a real family performance, with Dan operating the lighting and flame effects, and Tony firing the pyro. The result was stunning, drawing loud applause from a very large audience. A First Class effort if ever there was one!

*Thank you Dick for your kind contribution to the blog too!!