Oldham comes together for Big Bang Bonfire celebration

The event returned to the borough for its 11th year yesterday (November 2) despite similar events being cancelled elsewhere, such as Manchester City Council’s bonfire night.

As well as fireworks, appearances from local station Mom’s Spaghetti radio and dancers also made for a jam-packed, if a little muddy, evening.

Stuck in the mud? (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

The bonfire was kicked off by lucky six-year-old Byron Austin, from Chadderton, who won the competition to press the big red button to spark the fire.

He was watched on by Mayor Cllr Zahid Chauhan OBE and crowds of excited residents.

Speaking to The Oldham Times ahead of the bonfire, Mum Vicky Austin, 37, said: “I just thought it would be a nice experience for him to set the fire off at Oldham Edge.”

Byron and Mayor Zahid Chauhan OBE wearing the mayoral chains (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

Good for everybody to get together

Suzanne Barnes was attending the bonfire with her family.

The Limeside resident said: “We come up every year and it’s Isabella’s first time seeing a bonfire because she lives in Salisbury, so she’s not seen one and she’s staying with her nanny. That’s why we’ve brought her up this year, but we enjoy every year.”

The 47-year-old said it was important that the bonfire continued, adding: “Definitely, yeah. Because we don’t really have much going on, so the things that do go on, like at Christmas and things like this, it’s good for the town.

“It’s good for everybody to get together really, and show that we’re all one, if you know what I mean.”

Left to right: Four-year-old Isabella; Leo, aged 18; Michelle, 47; Suzanne, 47; and Beth (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

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Weather blamed for 'lower than usual' attendance

Also on offer were rides and food stalls, which flanked the edge of the playing fields.

One food van was V Fresh Catering, which was selling burgers, chips, and hot and cold drinks.

Running the van with wife Tracey Woodhead and daughter Emma Shuttleworth, stall owner David Woodhead said attendance was lower than usual.

David said: “We’re busier than ever, not particularly tonight – there’s not the volume of people here that’s normally here, obviously down to the weather. But we’ve got four bonfires on this weekend, and we’ve also got a football ground we do in Liverpool, so we’re there tomorrow and then straight to a bonfire.”

The 57-year-old added: “This is our fourth or fifth year, bar Covid. We’ve been here four or five years.

“It’s always been great, it’s just attendance at the minute. As soon as the fireworks finish, they all go home.

“It’s normally been alright, a bit poor tonight just because of the weather and the numbers, but it’s normally spectacular, it’s normally a really good event.”

Stall owner David Woodhead runs V Fresh catering with his wife Tracey and daughter Emma Shuttleworth. (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

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The Gunpowder Plot

Ahead of the bonfire lighting, Mayor Cllr Zahid Chauhan told The Oldham Times: “It’s an amazing atmosphere here, there’s plenty of people here, and it’s great to have this event which is bringing families, children and residents together.”

The bonfire was lit at 6pm, with performers dancing on a stage in front of the fire until the fireworks were set off at 7pm.

Fireworks were accompanied by music including David Bowie, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Adele, and Muse.

A narrator provided the story of the Gunpowder Plot as crowds watched the display boom in the sky.

The fireworks display lasted for around 20 minutes, before crowds set off back home.

Oldham Council has yet to confirm how much it cost the taxpayer to put on the free-to-attend event, though last year’s event cost more than £40,000. At the time, then-council leader Amanda Chadderton said it was ‘proportionate to the joy it brought families across the borough’.