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Pictures of Dundee fireworks displays through the years – is that you beside the bonfire?

Ava Burgess, her brother Kai and sister Mia enjoy the fun at Lochee Park in 2018. Image: DC Thomson.
Ava Burgess, her brother Kai and sister Mia enjoy the fun at Lochee Park in 2018. Image: DC Thomson.

It’s Bonfire Night tomorrow and the rockets will burst in the sky with a fizz which cheers us through the ever-darkening days up to Christmas.

Bonfire Night celebrates the defeat of a conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5 1605.

It was two years after the death of Queen Elizabeth I when soldiers discovered Guy Fawkes in a cellar under the Houses of Parliament – and with him were at least 20 barrels of gunpowder.

The Gunpowder Plot gang were executed as traitors and, in 1606, Parliament agreed to make November 5 a day of public thanksgiving to be celebrated with fireworks and bonfires.

These pictures from the DC Thomson archives are sure to bring back memories for Dundonians of sparklers, big displays and the traditional ‘penny for the guy’.


Bonfire memory lane

Dundee Lochee Park in 1976. Image: DC Thomson.
Dundee Lochee Park in 1976. Image: DC Thomson.

Our first image is from Lochee Park’s fireworks display back in 1976.

The crowd were keeping warm by standing in front of the huge bonfire.

Lochee Park fireworks display in 1981. Image: DC Thomson.
Lochee Park fireworks display in 1981. Image: DC Thomson.

The fireworks display at Lochee was hugely impressive in 1981.

The Dundee displays that usually attract thousands aren’t going ahead this year, sadly, following a safety study that declared the venues unsuitable.

The Discovery can be seen in the background. Image: DC Thomson.
The Discovery can be seen in the background. Image: DC Thomson.

Andrew Smiley, managing director of Shellshock Fireworks, is pictured at Victoria Dock in Dundee in 1988, preparing for the firework display.

In addition to that display, during the 1980s, there were also Bonfire Night events at Broughty Ferry, Finlathen, Lochee Park and Ardler.

Dundee Baxter Park bonfire. Image: DC Thomson.

The crowd are silhouetted against the Baxter Park bonfire in 1993.

The council spent thousands of pounds on fireworks to entertain the masses with crowds of up to 25,000 a regular fixture before the plug was pulled in 2022.

Fireworks at Baxter Park in 1998. Image: DC Thomson.
Fireworks at Baxter Park in 1998. Image: DC Thomson.

Baxter Park probably just edged it in the bonfire stakes in 1998 with a huge roaring inferno that wowed the crowd gathered in front of the old pavilion.

The crowd made the best of a clear night and a full moon to witness the cacophony of noise and array of colours as the sky whizz-banged, popped and whooshed.

 

Youngsters with staff from the Macalpine Road station. Image: DC Thomson.
Youngsters with staff from the Macalpine Road station. Image: DC Thomson.

Youngsters from across Dundee were given a special glimpse into the roles and responsibilities faced by the city’s firefighters on Bonfire Night in 2007.

Pupils from Downfield Primary, St Columbus, St Margaret’s and St Peter and Paul were given the opportunity after winning a fireworks poster competition.

The Drummond family. Image: DC Thomson.

The Drummond family were enjoying the fun at Lochee Park in 2011.

Down on the ground there were also roaring bonfires and a radio roadshow to add to the offerings which kept the young and not-so-young entertained!

Young and old enjoying Bonfire Night at Baxter Park in 2013. Image: DC Thomson.

Here are some images of the crowds from Baxter Park in 2013.

They watched eagerly as a fair few thousand pounds of fireworks soared into the air before being expended in colourful, ear-piercing blasts in only 25 minutes.

Donna Dunsmuir, centre, with left, Aiden Dunsmuir and Ryan O'Neill. Image: DC Thomson.
Donna Dunsmuir, centre, with left, Aiden Dunsmuir and Ryan O’Neill. Image: DC Thomson.

Firefighters in Dundee had called for people to attend the official displays rather than set bonfires of their own.

Charlotte Brimner, known as Be Charlotte, was the special guest of Tay FM on their stage and she performed her catchy original songs as fireworks lit up the sky.

William Dunn and fiancée Sara Moultrie. Image: Steve MacDougall/DC Thomson,

One man at Baxter Park brought with him one very important question to ask his girlfriend — and, to the delight of those listening, she said yes to his marriage proposal.

William, 35, enlisted the help of Tay FM DJ Ally Bally to pop the question to Sara Moultrie in front of thousands of bonfire night revellers.

“In my few years’ experience I’ve been asked to do many things but I think this is the first time I’ve ever had to propose on behalf of someone,” said Ally at the time.

“It’s nice to do something special like that, particularly a crowd that size – it will be remembered.”

These girls at Lochee Park might have been trying to get some heat given the temperatures. Image: DC Thomson.

Fast-forward to 2017 and things were slightly colder!

The annual celebrations attracted large crowds who had to wrap up warm as an autumn chill saw night-time temperatures plummet to just 1 or 2C.

A happy group of girls in 2018. Image: DC Thomson.

Baxter and Lochee parks were equally busy in 2018 as the “Party!”-themed evening paid homage to musical acts that have performed in the city.

The crowd enjoyed songs from the likes of Simple Minds, Blue and The Proclaimers.

May Alexander from Forfar. Image: DC Thomson.

What do you like to do on Bonfire Night?

Do you just have a few fireworks in the garden or do you go to a display?

Whatever you are doing, we hope your evening goes with a bang!

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