This evening it was bonfire night again which meant it was time for my fourth trip to Ottery St Mary on the 5th November. At Ottery they celebrate the event by covering huge barrels with tar, setting fire to them and running down the streets which are crowded with locals and students. It is an event that I have no idea how it still happens with all the health and safety which controls everything else so tightly, but it is great fun and it will be odd possibly not going to it next year as I will have graduated.

It is always a challenge to get photos at this event as there are so many people getting a view of the barrel without people in the way is only possible when it gets incredibly close to you so you have to get a photo before you get hit by a burning barrel and often there are then too many people to get out of the way! This year on the final barrel was busier than I have seen it in the past and moving out of the way was extremely difficult and I managed to set my coat on fire and burn my hand slightly on my camera as an ember got caught on the camera body.

Running with a Barrel
Spinning the barrel makes sparkes
Running with a Burning Barrel
Barrel Falling Apart
Ohh Fire!
Swapping the Barrel
Huge Final Barrel
Final Barrel Starting to Fall Apart
Sparks off the Final Barrel as it Falls Apart!