Catherine Wheels, rockets shooting out of multicoloured volcanoes, an array of sparks and bangs that looks as though they're coming straight towards you...

 

St Philomena's, Carshalton, held their second annual fireworks night on the 17th October, bringing together children and parents from the school and the adjoining St Mary's Primary. The event went off without a bang – though only metaphorically - as rainbow colours filled the sky and dazzled those down below, making them gaze up into this cloud of luminosity that seemed to light up the whole of Carshalton.

 

The event was raising money for the St Philomena's Association and its affiliated charities. The SPA, as its more commonly known, has worked tirelessly over the last few years in order to raise money to benefit the school and its learning and teaching. Due to the famous car boot sales that were held every month and events such as the fireworks night itself, the SPA were able to raise a staggering £25,000 from 2013 up to now. This money went towards projects such as a new minibus, which allows students to travel to sports events, conferences and for general school trips. Overall, the effort of the SPA most definitely proved itself at the fireworks night.

 

Volunteers were out in their many, not just to set up the fireworks, but to play music to entertain the crowds and serve eager and hungry customers. An entire food stall was set up to feed the shivering as they waited patiently for the fireworks to begin. Pizza, biscuits, hot tea and coffee; this event seemed so very well planned and judging by the amount of people present, it sure did seem that this event was one that had been in the calendar for a while.

 

The fireworks themselves were a spectacle. Though a few screams and gasps occurred when the first blast of colour and gunpowder came, the ribbons of sparks and glowing light left people in anticipation to see what pattern the next set of fireworks would hold. As I looked around, all eyes were transfixed on the rockets of green, red and gold and as the display accumulated to its very grand finale, one that could almost be argued to rival the volume of the fireworks by the London Eye, I had accepted that this event had surpassed my expectations.

 

Two of the students present were equally enthralled and excited as myself,

 

“The fireworks night at St Phil's was absolutely amazing. The fireworks themselves were stunning

and the atmosphere was so friendly and welcoming that you couldn't help but enjoy yourself!”

 

“The fireworks themselves were really good and definitely worth watching. I would be keen to go again if there was another.”

 

And hopefully there will be another fireworks night, attracting more and more students and parents to attend this most fantastic display of not only the fireworks, but of what the SPA can really achieve.

 

Cristina O'Brien, St Philomena's Catholic High School For Girls