Farnham Fireworks and Torchlit Procession raised an incredible £40,000 for local good causes last year – with organisers Farnham Round Table calling on the public’s support to help top this figure on Saturday (November 5).

The vast majority of the charitable proceeds were generated by advance ticket sales, with tickets also now on sale online for this year’s community fireworks event (adults £10, children £5) at https://farnhamroundtable.org.uk/events/fireworktickets/

The food village at Farnham Park will open at 5pm, with more food vendors than ever before offering everything from gourmet burgers to German sausages, paella, Thai noodles, vegan street food, churros, candy floss, a Hogs Back Brewery bar and hot drinks.

Entertainment will also be laid on throughout the evening, including live music  by ska band Jungle Brew on the main stage, Taiko drummers and fire performers.

The Reading Pipers Band will lead a traditional torchlit procession up Castle Street and into Farnham Park. This year the procession will set off from Waggon Yard car park at 6.15pm where flaming torches will be sold.

The car park will be closed to traffic, as will Castle Street for the procession, but parking is available at Central, Maltings, Lower and Upper Hart car parks.

Schools across the area are already busy designing their Guys for the Guy contest, which will be judged prior to the lighting of the bonfire at 7.15pm. This will be followed by the blockbuster 15-minute firework display. The food village will remain open until 9pm.

Last year’s event was boosted by a post-lockdowns bounce as well as the cancellation of large-scale community fireworks events in Aldershot and Guildford.

This year’s event is not expected to be quite so crowded.

However, with the community groups, charities, schools and other good causes supported by the Round Table in need of support more than ever because of the cost-of-living and energy crisis, it is hoped this year’s event will again raise a bumper fundraising total.

Around £15,000 of last year’s fireworks proceeds were handed out to groups supporting the event.

This included £3,000 donated to 3rd Farnham Scouts, £1,500 to Farnham Cricket Club, £1,000 to Bourne Blades Football Club, as well as smaller sums to countless schools who made guys for the bonfire, The Hedgehogs, Frimley Hospital Radio for compering the event, and live band Late to the Party who donated their fee to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

The remaining £25,000 fireworks proceeds were dished out to good causes making grant applications to Farnham Round Table throughout the year.

This ranged from a £4,000 donation to Farnham food bank at Christmas, to £2,250 towards events for local hospital staff as a thank you for their tireless work combating the Covid-19 pandemic, £3,000 in Christmas food vouchers to local families in need (as identified by a club contact with a home-school liaison worker), and £600 to a local women’s refuge to cover the cost of a theatre visit.

This is a source of great pride for the club members; that they have been able to give back so generously to the community they are a part of.

Farnham Round Table is a social and charitable organisation for men between 18 and 45 years old. As well as Farnham Fireworks and Torchlit Procession, it organises the Farnham Charity Bike Ride, and runs multiple Santa’s Sleigh routes each year.

It also runs ad hoc events to raise money, such as carol singing at the station and selling Christmas trees.

New members are always welcome. For more information, see https://farnham roundtable.org.uk/