ONE of our area's best-loved radio personalities has backed plans to open new vantage points for crowds to watch the 2009 Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular.
John 'Gilly' Gillmore, who will broadcast live from Lancaster Castle's annual event this Saturday (November 7), agreed with the council's decision to 'cap' the number of people watching from Castle Hill.
"This will be the third year I have present
ed the programme live from the castle," said John, who presents the afternoon show on BBC Radio Lancashire.
"In that time I think the number of people attending from all over Lancashire has certainly rocketed!
"It's good to see Giant Axe being used as a vantage point for those attending as well as Williamson Park."
John encouraged crowds at the three venues to take a radio with them to listen to Radio Lancashire's coverage of the event.
He will also chat to members of the crowd live on air.
Gilly's live broadcast begins from 7pm on 104.5FM and 1557AM.
The BBC Radio Lancashire Roadshow will also be live at one of the two viewing points at Williamson Park. At the Ashton Memorial, you can meet Tim Padfield, Paul O'Gorman, Pudsey Bear and other Radio Lancashire personalities.
From 8pm there will be special music to accompany the fireworks music on the radio.
A WHOLE day of events is planned for this Saturday (November 7) to mark the 17th annual Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular.
Due to the display's increasing popularity, two official alternative viewing areas are also available this year, at the Giant Axe field, next to Lancaster City football ground, and at Williamson Park.
These will remain open throughout the evening, though admission to the Castle Hill site will close at 7.30pm, or earlier if the site is full.
Preceding the pyrotechnics will be a full day of events, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the opening of two of Lancaster's most important public buildings, the Town Hall and Williamson Park's Ashton Memorial.
Lancaster Town Hall will stage guided tours at 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm.
An actor dressed as Lord Ashton– who donated both the Town Hall and Ashton Memorial to Lancaster – will be presiding over the occasion.
The Town Hall will also host two talks. The first at 2pm, 'Li'l Jimmy Williamson' by Sue Ashworth, explores Lord Ashton's lordship's life and times.
At 3.30pm, Dr Andrew White's 'Lord Ashton's Legacy' looks at the various buildings and places, which he gifted to Lancaster.
The tours and talks are free of charge.
The Judges' Lodgings Museum is opening especially, out of season, from 11am to 5pm, with discounted admission of £2 adults and no entry charge for accompanied children.
Here there will be Punch and Judy and two magic shows presented by Bamboozlement.
A short walk away, the music and song of the variety theatre and music hall will be on offer in the Penny Almshouses Chapel, presented by the Hautbois duo. There are three shows, at 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.
Admission is free and early arrival is advised, as space is limited.
In St Nicholas Arcades, Lancaster's Inner State Theatre Company will present a unique rendition of the Punch and Judy story, at various times.
'Lord Ashton's Lancaster' runs at noon and 2.30pm, starting from the Castle's John O'Gaunt Gateway. It is free of charge.
