Watford Round Table’s 1974 firework fantasia was a real cracker. Thousands poured into Cassiobury Park for Saturday night’s display, there was a record entry for the guy competition, the weather managed to keep fine, and gross takings from the collection were nearly £100 up on last year.

But even more important was the fact that a number of accidents may well have been averted, for indications were that many more parents took their families into the park for this show rather than risk the hazards of private firework parties in their own back gardens.

The show started with the lighting of a giant bonfire which illuminated the whole of the lower park arena.

Then followed the judging of some 25 guys of varying shapes and sizes, and certainly of an exceptionally high standard, according to Watford MP Mr Raphael Tuck, and Deputy Mayoress Mrs W Horner, who were given the job of picking the winners.

The £5 prize for the best school entry went to Holywell County Infants, while the top prize of £3 for the best guy shown by an individual was won by ten-year-old Diana Allen. Martin Sismey, 11, took second prize and Simon Young was third.

The grand £300 display of fireworks was well worth anybody’s contribution to the Tablers’ collection.

It featured mostly aerial displays of cascading coloured stars which brought gasps of wonder and appreciation from the huge crowd.

The collection realised £675 and it was estimated the show cost nearly £500 to stage, so once again there will be a useful profit to be used mainly for financing the Table’s Christmas parcels operation.

Watford Tablers’ press officer Mr Peter Faulkner said afterwards: “We were well satisfied with the show. So far as I know there were no mishaps.

“The public were all well behaved and responded well to our request that there should be no fireworks let off privately in the park.”

[From the Watford Observer of November 8, 1974]