CARDENDEN’S Community Bonfire 2023 was greeted by decent weather on Friday night and a crowd of well over 3,000 people attended at Wallsgreen Park.

The Community Bonfire Committee made an appeal to the local business community to help them in their search for wooden pallets for the bonfire, and they were well supported with it being the centre piece of the evening.

Things started with the lighting of the bonfire, which had three guys aboard, performed by local councillors Linda Erskine, Rosemary Liewald and Lea McLelland, along with Bowhill Centre manager Margaret King.

Compere for the evening was Benarty-based entertainment guru, Kenny McGurk, who introduced the start of the firework display which saw some spectacular scenes develop.

The big crowd, which contained many youngsters, were enthralled by the quality of the display.

The chairman of the Cardenden Community Bonfire Committee, who organised the event, Alex Burns MBE, said: “After a week of really wet weather, mercifully we had a lovely night for the bonfire and fireworks display, and I would like to thank our local councillors and Margaret King for lighting the bonfire, and starting what was a lovely evening’s entertainment, along with Kenny McGurk for keeping everything moving smoothly.

“Also, it must be remembered that this would not have been possible without the financial support of many organisations and people, which provided the £7,500 to pay for the firework display, it is greatly appreciated.

“The staff of the Bowhill and Corrie Centres must also be thanked for helping the event to take place and also everyone who helped on the day as well as the young people who created the three guys which completed the bonfire.”

Alex, who has been involved in all 28 Cardenden Community Bonfires that have taken place, since 1995, added: “The security people did an excellent job and it was great to hear that the Scottish Ambulance Association people reported that there had been no injuries of any kind during the evening.

“I would like to conclude by thanking my three grandsons and son-in-law for their tremendous work on the day to help make the 2023 Cardenden Community Bonfire take place.”