Community Spirit, March 2018

Darren Bishop on site
Richard: “So, basically people are safe
walking around and what about cats
and dogs?”
Darren: “The veterinary society of
Valencia have just launched an
information campaign for people
about what they can do to keep their
pets safe and calm, so they are taking
them into account. The Mayor also
mentioned it yesterday. You know
what it is like in England if someone
lets off a banger in June, there’s a riot!”
“But pets do get more used to the
fireworks the more they hear them, so
eventually it becomes normal. In
England because you just have 5th
November and New Years Eve, it
comes out of nowhere so it petrifies
the animals. So it stands to reason that
if they hear it more they get used it
more. Don’t forget they have a long
firework season over here, nothing to
do with Las Fallas, but the season
starts from March to November, so
they have fireworks all the time.”
Richard: “Well thank you very much
for coming along and giving us a
different perspective of what this
great festival is like, when you are
actually living in the city. Very nice to
have met you!”
Darren: “It was a pleasure!”
Darren’s Background:
He was born into another world
famous tradition, Lewes Bonfire.
The small county town of Lewes, East
Sussex, attracts 10’s of thousands of
people each year to witness their
Bonfire remembrance and traditions.
Involved in this are many costumes
that are made by the wearers or their
families, processions of flaming
torches, firework banners and
firework displays. There are 7 Bonfire
Societies in Lewes and Darren has
been involved from a very young age
with two. This lead him to get
involved with the pyrotechnics and
that sowed the seed for his passion for
everything pyro.
He followed his passion with thanks to some
other ‘Bonfire’ friends followed it all the way
here to Valencia! To this day he is very much
involved and can often be seen carrying
firework banners on November 5th each
year.
From this he started his own pyrotechnic
company in 1997 and has done professional
displays for some big names including Sir
Richard Branson, Charlton Athletic FC and
many more!
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