Lack of volunteers spell end for Portgordon fireworks display

THE skies over Portgordon will be unusually silent at the end of the month with the sad demise of the village's annual fireworks display.

Last year saw the event – which attracted visitors from across the north-east – celebrate its 27th and what proved to be final year. With the former long-serving committee stepping down, it had been hoped to attract fresh blood, but this has not come to pass.

Former fireworks committee chairman Kenny Gunn said: "Unfortunately the scarcity of fresh, younger generations prior to last year's event meant we were unable to recruit any new committee members to allow continuity of the Portgordon fireworks.

"We really did appreciate those who managed along on the day and evening of the last event and tried to encourage the current members to carry on but there are months of dedicated preparations for an event such as this. We had run for the last 27 years with limited committee members.

"There was a couple who we had offered to aid along the way towards processing Public Entertainment Licensing through the Moray Council making sure the event run to the safest form for residents, spectators and committee.

"We were grateful to the licensing officer and local police who gave us guidance in our latter years but sadly nobody came forward to gain from our experience nor funds we had kept aside.

"As we had budgeted for a new committee taking over the running of the fireworks display we, the retiring fireworks group, have since spent monies in the village for several items. Although we shall have no event in the future we hope our donations give some continuity towards the health and wellbeing of all Portgordon villagers."

A wide range of local groups have benefited from the fireworks committee's generosity.

Six Christmas lights were first on the donation list and it is hoped they shall make an appearance in Portgordon for the first time this year for a new Light Up Portgordon Group under leadership of Laura Wailes.

For the community playground, new goal nets, clips and pins have been purchased.

Since there are two defibrillator units in the village and the battery and pads require regular replacement, the fireworks group decided to replace the village hall unit in association with Keiran's Legacy and supplied new replacement pads for the primary school. Also, some of the cash was used to take out a regular service contract on both units, again through Keiran's Legacy, ensuring four quarterly checks per year.

Some of the funds have gone towards providing food containers to give housebound villagers a tasty meal delivered through Debbie's Deliveries and Portgordon Open Doors scheme.

Finally, the Portgordon Bowling Club were the beneficiaries of a cheque to support their group which was struggling. Fireworks group members encouraged other local groups and individuals to come along to two fun events, helping increase funds and hopefully bowling club membership.

After their final event last year the fireworks committee were able to assist the Portgordon village hall, the Portgordon Post and the community trust with donations, too.

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