My name is Alan Smith.  Our Mum Josephine was killed by firework misuse.

I grew up in the 1970s. One of five, sisters Linda and Julie, and brothers Stephen and Derek. 

Guy Fawkes night played a big part of our childhood, it was one of the few times of the year when we all came together as a family. Things were much simpler back then, Dad Derek snr would come in from work a little earlier than usual. We would go to our local shop and buy our fireworks. I say buy as opposed to choose as pre-planning was never Dad’s thing so we took what was usually the last box in the shop. A little display box, a pack of sparklers, and if Dad was in a particularly good mood and if there were any left, we would maybe get a pack of rockets. 

The date, incidentally, was always November the 5th. 

I remember coming home, opening up the box, reading every detail and placing them safely in a Victoria biscuit tin that we kept just for the occasion. Mum would make jacket potatoes, just cheese and beans, none of this modern chilli con carne nonsense. But of course, always proper butter that was well melted, almost to liquid form as it had been on the side in a butter dish for days, unheard of then to keep it in the fridge.

We were lucky, we had the  use of a field out the back of our house. We were never particularly well off but my sisters both kept ponies out there. Dad also kept two cattle. We thought of them as pets. However, they disappeared on the same day that we had a large chest freezer delivered. Sisters Linda and Julie became vegetarians from that day to this. (I did also but I only lasted three days.) I digress. We always had a larger than average bonfire so we lit our fireworks in the field around that. The two ponies were put in their stables and the two cattle were put into another field. Our little dog, Mumfy, was terrified so we put him in the front room of the house with the radio up loud and we sat with him from time to time so he managed ok.

Dad would fill up buckets of water and we would have the hose pipe on standby. Then, and only then, could the fun begin. Each firework would be selected one at a time and the lid placed back on the tin.  Each firework was lit as per the instructions, at arm’s length, 25 metres away. I’ll never forget when I was about twelve, so 1981, Dad let me light a firework; I remember being so excited yet simultaneously terrified. The fireworks would only last maybe 15 minutes and they were never anything resembling spectacular but the fun we had as a family was so memorable. After the fireworks were lit, we would stay up late, even if it was a school night, and watch the fire reduce to glowing embers. Then a quick bath, no showers back then, and bed. Even that part was exciting as bath night was usually Sunday so a midweek bath felt special. I miss my childhood, as we all do, but those Guy Fawkes nights were right up there with Christmas day.

Growing older, and becoming husband to Lisa, and a parent of two gorgeous girls, Lucy and Molly, born in 2000 and 2003 respectively, we maintained the tradition. We always had a few fireworks or attended a local organised display. We always kept everything safe and sensible and above all we always respected our neighbours. 

The date, incidentally, remained November the 5th.

Having small children and doing some fireworks on actual Guy Fawkes night, neighbours would either be having fireworks themselves or were prepared for us to be having them. We would usually light them around 6 pm and be done by 6.15. The only differences were no bonfire, the butter was rock hard as we kept it in the fridge and large dollops of chilli con carne were heaped onto our jacket potatoes. I miss those times with my girls when they were small, as we all do, but Guy Fawkes night always remained special.

The 28th of October 2021 had been a normal work day. I went to bed around 8 pm as I had a 3 am alarm for work the next morning.

Around 9 pm I was woken by my wife Lisa with the words I still hear everyday: “Al, your Mum’s house is on fire!” I remember panic set in, I threw on some clothes and Lisa and I sped to Mum’s. She only lived half a mile away. Upon arrival the scene was horrific: Several fire engines, ambulances and police everywhere. I remember having her key clutched in my hand yet watching the fire brigade smash Mum’s door in. Terrified, we phoned our family and Lisa collected our daughters. The whole family were there that night as we all lived very close. I remember however  prior to their arrival, just Lisa and I were present when Mum was brought from the house. I can see that image every day: her smoke covered leg hanging lifeless from the fireman’s arms. The cries and screams of emotion as we all gathered was haunting and never leaves us. All watching and waiting for what seemed forever but was probably 15 mins while Mum was worked on to try and save her. The scene felt like being in a horror movie. Then, at 22.47 and 13 seconds we were told that Mum had passed. I remember that time vividly as I had to sign the forms soon after. We had the chance to say our goodbyes, I kissed Mum’s blood-stained hand, as we all did. My daughter Lucy had a special bond with her Gran. She gave her a final kiss and tenderly pulled the sheet over her Gran’s face. 

We stayed until 4 am, with Mum still lying on the pavement and a screen around her. It was a long, harrowing night. I remember vividly the conversation with the fire officer. We were discussing possible causes when another fire officer came over. “We found a firework just inside the door,” he said. “It may have been dragged in with the hoses,” he added.

We finally got home around 04.30, exhausted and dazed. 

29th October: A phone call from a police officer informing us he was our Family Liaison Officer, and that they were, indeed, investigating the possibility of arson. Having experienced  the horror of the previous evening and then being told it was possibly a deliberate act was a terrible blow to the family. 

Early the next morning, we were told that arrests had been made. Eighteen year old Kai Cooper and fifteen year old Callum Dunne. Those names were to be etched on our memories forever.

The police and their entire handling of the crime and us as a family was absolutely commendable. Our Family Liaison Officer, Richard and the Hendon team 5, are a credit to policing, which was so important to us as the reality of our situation began to hit home.

As Mum’s passing was now a crime investigation, we could not have Mum’s funeral until the 9th of December. We had to wait for post mortem results, but worst of all they took Mum’s heart separately to analyse it and as close as the day before the funeral it still had not been released. Fortunately it was returned the night before. 

Even dealing with things that you would expect to be straightforward were traumatic: I particularly remember the conversation with Mum’s house insurance investigation team. Driving home from work two days before Mum’s funeral, I received a  phone call from an unusual number, introducing himself as the insurance investigator. I won’t name him as he was just doing his job. He began his questioning with standard questions, my name, date of birth etc. I soon realised that I was being questioned about my whereabouts on the night of the fire and “did I have a good relationship with my mother?” He was actually, as part of his investigation, suggesting that I could have started the fire myself. The questions were suggesting I had started the fire for an insurance claim. Pardon my language but “shit calls” like that never leave you.

The youths were charged with arson and manslaughter. Dunne pleaded in early 2023 and several visits to the Old Bailey followed. The most haunting of all was the 7th February 2023. We had the opportunity to view the CCTV from that night which was going to be presented at the trial in April. The footage from inside the shop, Fireworks4sale, from where the fireworks were sold was infuriating at best. Cooper and Dunne, the latter of which was 15 years old, had entered the shop around 8 pm. They were laughing and joking with Mark Vardy, the sales person and father of Luke Vardy, the shop owner. The conversation from the two youths included language like, “People are going to get terrorised tonight” and “We are going to throw them at the police.”  Mr Vardy goes on to say, “You can hold them, throw them, do what you like with them.” Our entire family was distraught, two stupid boys had been sold fireworks by a man with apparent years of experience in selling them, yet he had full knowledge of their intentions. My focus for getting justice for Mum had now been directed towards a third person.

The trial of Cooper started in April and lasted for 5 days.

Dunne received a custodial sentence of 3 years and 6 months. Cooper, as he was older, and had not pleaded guilty, received 7 years and 4 months. As I write this on 21st November 2024, both are still in prison.

The next hurdle was the prosecution of Mark and Luke Vardy. Strangely for our family, we felt more, or at least equal, anger towards these two than we did towards Cooper and Dunne. The two youths were stupid, irresponsible thugs who had not had the best of childhoods and were not even thinking when they caused havoc in our lives that night. In contrast, Mark Vardy was a grown man with years of experience in selling fireworks, yet still decided to sell them to a minor who had stated his intentions to “terrorise”.    

A simple “no” from Mr Vardy would have prevented so much heartache. However, he decided that causing us more trauma would be the best option. 

Fireworks4sale was fined in the region of £17,000.

And Mark was fined approx £1,200. He did, however, also receive a six-week sentence, suspended for 12 months. A tiny sentence for such an experienced man.

The actions of Mark Vardy that night made me determined  to try and make some legislation changes regarding the sale and use of fireworks.

As an initial impulse, I launched a change.org petition immediately after the Mark Vardy trial. Publicity and public feeling around the case was strong and it gained 30,000 signatures in the first two days. I began reading social media posts concerning both sides of the firework debate. I soon got in touch with Julie Doorne of the Firework Campaign. It was all a big eye-opener for me. Julie and the team had been campaigning for 10 years and their petitions have been debated in parliament.

My Change petition continued to gain in the numbers signed and currently stands at 68,000. I was fortunate enough to have some tv, radio and press coverage which aided this.

Now that the general election was out of the way, the new petitions committee was expected to be launched soon after. So in conjunction with the firework campaign, we decided to launch a new GOV petition. It wasn’t until the 4th of November that the committee finally opened its doors. Perfect timing for us as Julie was presenting her 1 million strong Change petition the very next day – Guy Fawkes day incidentally. The petition grew in numbers very steadily over the coming days and continues to do so. The immense amount of hard work that the campaign put in was a big aid to boosting numbers.

And finally to the point.

Love or Hate?

The debate around the use of fireworks creates a great deal of division. It would probably be expected that I would be on the hate side of the debate. However, with such strong childhood memories, I still tend to be more central on the subject.

The almost extreme views of some on both sides of the debate are rather alarming. 

So much hatred and division.

The pro side of the debate seems to have little regard or respect for anybody.

Letting off fireworks indiscriminately at any time without warning should surely not be acceptable in a modern respectful society. Yet many pros would argue that dogs, for example, should have sensitivity training. They will use words like cronies and killjoys. They constantly spew out statements and propaganda in order to attempt to justify their apparent lack of respect for others.

The anti side on the other hand will use words like neanderthal and idiots. Even when fireworks are used when they should be. Our love of animals is a beautiful thing, watching my little Lhasa Apso, Freddy, shake at the sound of fireworks is heartbreaking. Yet again in a modern respectful society we need to accept the rights of people to enjoy fireworks on the proper dates.

Arguing and insulting each other is not the way to a sensible and mutually agreeable solution to the problem. It’s time for a sensible, respectful debate, so those that wish to enjoy fireworks on the few important days of the year can do so.  And in turn, those who have pets, PTSD, mental health issues etc only have to manage their situation on a handful of dates a year.

The fireworks that were used to take Mum’s life were bought on a whim on our local high street.  A licence requirement would have prevented Mum’s death.

Our new Government petition. ‘Limit the Sale and Use of Fireworks to Licence Holders Only’ is a petition that I launched in conjunction with the firework campaign on November 5th 2024. Its aims and objectives are, in my view, to restore the status quo and achieve the goal of restoring the missing respect.

When forming a GOV petition, its headline can only ever really be a suggestion. So ‘Limit the Sale and Use of Fireworks to Licence Holders Only’ may seem a little vague. The team at the Firework Campaign work tirelessly to bring about the changes we need. They are extremely committed to the cause and very seasoned campaigners. The following statements may however differ from their views.

The following, current regulations, create questions which I feel need deɓating:

1.  Fireworks can be used from 7 am to 11 pm, 365 days of the year, with extensions on key dates. I fail to see how any logical, respectful individual could see sense in such a wide time window. Surely anyone letting off fireworks in daylight hours are only doing so to cause nuisance. In addition, every day of the year. How can that be acceptable in a respectful society? Would a 4 pm to 10 pm window not be more acceptable?

2. F2 fireworks are required to have a safe distance of 8 metres – whilst the safe distance for F3 fireworks is 25 metres. With the vast majority of UK gardens not meeting the 8 metre minimum size, how is it safe to use them in private gardens?

3. Fireworks can be bought easily on the high street. It was an impulse buy that resulted in Mum’s death. Surely explosives should not be so readily available?

4. Even fireworks that are set off legally at organised displays, often do not take into account the surroundings. There have been several reports of displays taking place near livestock, animal sanctuaries, zoos etc. Why are safe buffer zones not required around such establishments?

Many debates have taken place over the years. The response is often, “currently the firework industry is already heavily regulated. We feel that the regulations as they stand are adequate.” If it were the case that current regulations are adequate, the same debate would not occur year after year. 

Let’s continue the debate. Make legislation changes to make communities safer, reduce stress on pets and wildlife, and allow those that suffer in other ways to have time to prepare and manage their symptoms. 

But also to allow those that wish to enjoy fireworks in a safe, and above all respectful manner.

Love or Hate –  it’s time to debate.

Click here to sign the Government petition

Click here to sign the Change.org petition