A CLEAR, dry night made the return of a big fireworks display to Salisbury even more spectacular.
Hundreds of people gathered at Salisbury Racecourse on Saturday, November 1, for the return of the display.
A 12-minute firework display, live music from 'This is Queen', food stalls and a children's Halloween disco put on by Odstock Radio all made the night special.
Radio Odstock's chidlren's disco at Salisbury Racecourse fireworks in aid of Salisbury Hospice (Image: Kimberley Barber)
The event was in aid of Salisbury Hospice Charity.
A Salisbury Hospice Charity spokesperson said: "By being here tonight, you are helping us to provide vital care and comfort to patients and family members. We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all those who made the event possible, including all our amazing volunteers, our generous sponsor Jones & Co, as well as our friends and partners at Salisbury Racecourse, Wilton and Salisbury Rotary Clubs, Salisbury Reds, Radio Odstock and Tesco Extra Salisbury. We are truly grateful for your support. We hope you all have a fantastic evening."
The event was sponsored by Jones & Company and supported by the Rotary Clubs of Wilton and Salisbury.
Guests at the Salisbury Racecourse fireworks in aid of Salisbury Hospice (Image: Kimberley Barber)
The hospice hosted special guests in the owner's lounge for food and drinks.
President of Salisbury Rotary Club Alan Corkill said: "It has been wonderful, it has been really well organised. It has been a great event and a great evening."
President of Wilton Rotary Club Peter Edge said: "I thought it was brilliant. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was great. Hopefully, we have raised lots of money for Salisbury Hospice, and I look forward to next year."
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Fireworks returned to Salisbury Racecourse last night in aid of Salisbury Hospice
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The Mayor of Wilton, Cllr Alexandra Boyd, was at the event with her consort, Adrian Boyd.
She said: "For me, sometimes fireworks are just fireworks, but this really has been a fantastic evening. For this event to return after such a long time, it really has been very special and poignant. Well done to everyone involved."
After the fireworks, the crowd partied the night away to the sounds of This is Queen, while others took a special shuttle bus put on by Salisbury Reds home.
This is Queen at Salisbury Racecourse fireworks in aid of Salisbury Hospice (Image: Kimberley Barber)
Big fireworks displays in the Salisbury area were cancelled in each of the last three years.
In 2022, the Racecourse fireworks were called off after 130mm (five inches) of rainfall left parts of the venue saturated and waterlogged.
The following year, the Rotary clubs "could not secure transport and ticketing facilities in time" after a late change in the location.
And the plug was pulled on a planned display at The Stones Hotel in High Post last year because of an "unexpected licensing complication".