The Argyll town with a firework now named for it, is to see a home grown incendiary in charge of this year’s event.
The 2013 Obang – for of course the town is Oban – is at 7pm in Mossfield Park Stadium on 5th November – when else?
Pyro 1 is in charge again - the fireworks display firm that got an instant global profile – along with Oban itself - when, two years ago, due to a technical malfunction, the 20 minute firework display to crown the town’s Winter Festival – spent itself in one fabulous 50 second burst. [Mark Carter's photographs are here.]
This was the night the ground moved for Oban.
Pyro 1, which has not stopped working since, created a special firework in honour of the town with which it will be forever linked: the Obang, bound to feature in the 2013 display. They’ll have to make sure everyone knows which one it is. It must be a multi-cracker.
Back in 2011, Councillor Roddy McCuish was Master of Ceremonies. This time he’s been invited back – but is under warning to touch nothing.
MC for 2013 is his fellow Oban South and the Isles councilor, Fred Hall, who has worked with dedication on the organisation of the event.
Councillor McCuish says, tongue firmly in cheek: ‘I quickly recognised Fred Hall’s particular talents in fronting this event, having seen his fireworks in action in debate in the council chamber. He’s done a great job for this year’s show.
‘After Obang, there wasn’t an animal left in Oban. My cat was away for three days. That was some night.’
When the 2011 event briefly turned night to day in Oban – Roddy McCuish found himself endlessly doing interviews with the world’s media, as Obang fired imaginations across the continents.
An irrepressible humourist with an enviable light touch, he was talking to CNN from the car park at the council HQ at Kilmory in Lochgilphead and said: ‘That first 5th November, Guy Fawkes nearly got it right’.
The line went dead. End of interview.
On this 5th November, the Car Park at Mossfield Park will open at 6pm for what everyone swears will be a 20 minute display. Pity.
The sky-play will be preceded by a display of earth-based fire-eating.
The event is sponsored by the Oban Common Good Fund, MacQueen’s Charitable Trust, Oban BIDS – and an army of volunteers.
