ROWLANDS Castle Firework display finally went ahead successfully this year after nearly being permanently shut down and then temporarily postponed due to the weather.
The annual fundraiser for good causes in the village and organised by the Rowlands Castle Association was put off for 24 hours to Sunday, November 10, after rain and wind on the Saturday forced the short postponement.
An association spokesman said: “It went ahead a day late, and a great time was had by everyone and not a drop of rain all evening.
“Thank you to everyone who supported the event.”
But the display nearly became a victim of its own success. In recent years the crowd watching the display on the village Recreation Ground grew to nearly 5,000 and last year there were concerns for spectator safety.
And this year health and safety experts said a second exit to the recreation ground was needed or it would be permanently cancelled.
This was so ambulances and fire engines could enter the ground in an emergency while spectators left by the other exit.
Fortunately Rowlands Castle Parish Council and the association managed to fund another exit so it could go ahead this year and in future.