No ‘They're part of our culture’
Amanda Akien, 45, journalist
I've always loved Bonfire Night. The sparklers, the smell of gunpowder, the hot dogs and bundling up in layers.
Our neighbour, who we called Big Ron, would put on epic firework displays. Those bangs, colours and crackles are some of my favourite childhood memories. We'd toast marshmallows on a bonfire, while Big Ron set light to an entire week's salary. Our cats and dogs didn't seem to mind.
Nowadays, I live in a little village in the countryside. And yes, I get the controversy. Fireworks are noisy, they can be dangerous, many dogs hate them, horses despise them, and they make us jump.
But, for me, they're part of our culture. Since Guy Fawkes, fireworks have been synonymous with 5…