Angry Letter Over Colehill Fireworks

I was quite amused to read a letter to the editor in the Stour and Avon Magazine a couple of weeks ago moaning about St Michael's annual fireworks display and how loud it was.

The anonymous complainant highlighted the excessive use of 'detonation' fireworks during the half hour display, comparing it to living through the Battle of the Somme. I mean no offensive, but how would this lady know? Her husband might, it's statistically possible that's he's old enough to have fought in the battle in 1916, but she couldn't possibly know how load the Battle of the Somme was even if she is old enough. Also aren't fireworks by definition detonation devices? What does she expect, fireworks that whisper to you?

The lady went on to claim the time had come to control these "deafening and frightening explosions," proposing they could ask people to be more considerate in the future.

Let's put this in to perspective. The fireworks display is a well organised and extremely well attended event held only once a year. Hundreds of people from far and wide turn up to see the St Michael's display at a much closer range than this lady's home, which she claimed was several streets away, to enjoy the pretty lights and the big bangs. That's half an hour of noise every year advertised well in advance.

If the lady in question doesn't like the loud bangs, and again I mean no offence when I say this, then I suggest she buy herself a pair of earplugs for next year instead of trying to tell everyone how they should enjoy themselves.