THE organisers of this year’s Barry Fireworks Fiesta are dedicating this year's event to honour a member who died in a tragic accident.

The Rotary Club of Barry will again host the annual Barry Island extravaganza, but will stage the event as a tribute to dedicated Rotarian and Welsh Hawking Centre owner, Ceri ‘Griff’ Griffiths who died while felling a tree at the Weycock Cross centre, on Monday, October 13.

Griff had served as president twice since he joined and was involved in organising previous displays.

Firework committee chairman, Carl Kerr said: “This year’s display will be dedicated to Ceri ‘Griff’ Griffiths, a committed Rotarian dedicated to the Rotary principle of “service above self”.

"Indeed it was shortly after dealing with an element of help we hope to provide for Riding for the Disabled that Griff succumbed to injuries suffered from a horrendous accident that happened at his place of business, the Hawking Centre.

"Griff will be remembered by his fellow Rotarians with fondness, respect and gratitude for his service to the community and our sincere commiserations go to his wife, Norma and family.”

Carl urged all to watch the display and help pay tribute by making a donation on the night.

He added: “It seems no time since I first took on this Fireworks Fiesta in 1983, it was then in its’ tenth year, fired in Romilly park by Rotarians with crowds of about 3000 to 5,000.

“After trying various venues, including Lakeside at The Knap, we are settled on Friars Point to the west of Whitmore Bay on Barry Island.

The event attracts some 15,000 people and is truly a spectacular display attracting not just Barry people but those from the South Wales Valleys, Cardiff and beyond.”

He said the event was fired with musical accompaniment and there was no admission charge since major sponsors - Barry Town and the Vale Council - meet a great proportion of the costs.

Mr Kerr said: “We do, however, rely on our bucket collections which largely owing to the generosity of the viewing public, helps us to fill our charity coffers so that we can respond to local needs. Recently we have provided four cardiac defibrillators and training for their use and a number of nebulisers for asthma suffers as well as assisting local action groups as required.”

The Vale Foodbank also receives Barry Rotary club assistance.

The event lasts around three hours but the display lasts 15 to 20 minutes.

The fireworks at Barry Island will start at 7.45pm on Wednesday, November 5.