Originally Posted by jra:
“I have to say one thing. You really know how to celebrate Nov 5th. Is it true that the Commercial display is the best, in your opinion.”
Impossible to say, as you can't go to them all! I'm in Cliffe, but watch from the terrace of the football club, where you can see almost all the aerial displays. The newest society, Southover, has the best I've seen, they're much more creative in use of colour etc and a bit different from most.
Cliffe usually has the best tableau and effigies imo, but that's only based on photographic evidence. The Cliffe did the fantastic Bin Laden on the bog a few years ago, and the great one of Clinton as Captain America astride a phallic rocket (the phallic rocket ejaculated great streams of white sparks at a strategic point, the symbolism of which was, astonishingly, lost on many).
And afaik, Cliffe are the only lot to use the "depth charge" - a bucket of diesel and petrol mix that is sunk into a hole in the ground and then detonated - which takes a hell of a lot of beating if you like enormous bangs and mushroom clouds of smoke.
Comical Square, as they are known by non-members, were excellent but are generally perceived to have been surpassed by Southover now.