Bus operator First York is supporting the return of the city’s biggest fundraising fireworks display after a three-year wait.
The Bonfire Night event is set to make a return to Rawcliffe Country Park on Saturday (6 November) to raise money for The Firefighters Charity, which supports the mental and physical needs of serving and retired members of UK fire services and their families.
First York has made the Rawcliffe Park & Ride site office available for the organisers to prepare for the display and sell tickets on the day with a member of the bus operator’s team also on hand to assist.
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The event is expected to attract up to 4,000 spectators and includes a funfair, live music and on-site broadcast by YorkMix Radio, with the gates opening at 5pm.
Bruce Reid, who retired as watch manager at Acomb Fire Station in September last year, began the event eight years ago and is continuing to organise the display with support from Pete Barrett, watch manager at York Fire Station and Terence Gregg, a member of the crew at Acomb.
Bruce said: “I know North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is proud to once again be a part of York’s biggest bonfire on Saturday 6 November. It’s been a long-awaited return for this display which raises thousands of pounds for The Firefighters Charity.”
Hugely successful
Area manager Phil Whild, the service’s strategic lead for The Firefighters Charity, said: “I would like to thank Bruce for all his years of fundraising and everyone who has contributed in any way in making this possible.
“I’m sure it will be a hugely successful display and rightly re-establish this as an annual event for the York community.”
He added: “The Firefighters Charity provides a vital and fantastic service to support the health and wellbeing of the fire service community, but the service they provide can only survive based upon donations from the public through fund raising events like this.”
Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children aged five and over with free entry for under-5s.
These will be on sale at Rawcliffe Park & Ride, and can also be bought at York, Acomb and Huntington fire stations, The Sidings restaurant and bar in Shipton-by-Beningbrough or online here.