We Ask a Pyrotechnician About His Favourite Display

It’s difficult to choose just one firework’s display, as I have been very lucky to work on and be involved with such a wide range of amazing projects. Certainly, firing the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve display for the first time was a significant moment. This was the opportunity in 2012 to fire from the Clock Tower (Big Ben) at The Palace of Westminster to herald the start of the Olympic year.

This opportunity enabled me to become the first person since Guy Fawkes to take gunpowder into the houses of parliament, fortunately with less catastrophic repercussions. Other highlights include the 50th anniversary of the Forth Road Bridge, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham and firing from the Arch at Wembley Stadium for the Adele concerts.

Of all these events, my favourite moment really has to be the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Not many people get the opportunity to work on an amazing project like the Olympics, let alone in one’s own country. It was a unique event with massive highs and considerable lows, but in the end, we can look back fondly with great memories of a critically acclaimed event. It was a real privilege to have been involved and play a part in the delivery of one of the best ceremonies ever seen.

The entire project consumed my life for 11 months; I lived and worked on the Olympic ceremonies non-stop, from the tender process and procurement, through to the creative and production meetings. Developing our method statement and finalising the logistics, eventually taking us to the delivery stage. The event was on a massive scale, with more than 150 firing positions on the stadium roof, 70 positions and five barges along a kilometre of the River Lea. It was the largest number of fireworks in the country ever put together for a display that lasted just over 4 minutes.

We had the best seats in the house, directly above the royal box on the gantry overlooking the field of play, firing the 20-second sequence from the stadium roof. We also enjoyed lighting paddles when the Queen declared the games open, which was both the most rewarding and terrifying moment of my life.