BRITAIN'S BONFIRE KING

Evening Star, Issue 21619, 15 January 1934, Page 10

BRITAIN'S BONFIRE KING

DEATH OK GUY FAWKES EVE LAST THOUGHT FOR “THE FIFTH.” The “ King of the Island ” is dead. Bernard A. Hastain, who for thirty years reigned as uncrowned king of the fireworks island at Belle Vue, Manchester, died at his home in the gardens on Saturday, November 4, at the age of fifty-eight. Millions of people, children and adults, had in three decades seen Hastain’s spectacular fireworks displays at Belle Vue. His gigantic -scenic paintings were famed all over the world. Right up to the moment of his death he had been superintending from his bed the arrangements for the Guy Fawkes display that evening. 'So ill with congestion of the lungs that he could scarcely speak, he scribbled his instructions on paper. The children must not be disappointed. The'2oft guy he had made for the bonfire must be the, best ever. Despite his illness he was determined that last evening he would leave his bed and carry out his plans for judging a display of guys made by Manchester children.

That task was carried out sadly, but according to his plans, by Miss Marjorie Dewsbury, his niece and “ right hand ” for many years in the preparation of the scenic spectacles. And Bernard Hastain, the man who never missed a single performance in any of the thirty years’ fireworks displays, was in his house close by. Mr Hastain not only wrote the scenario and designed the whole of the dresses and scenery for the Belle Vue Island displays, but painted every scrap of it himself, utilising a hundred brushes on the acres of canvas. He knew the delight which children took in fireworks and in spectacular displays, and his last thoughts on the eve of the great fireworks festival were that the children should have a happy evening. Though the " King of the Island was not there to give the order that night, the mortar was fired and the fireworks blazed and sparkled round the burning effigy as -he had planned tjiey gWld*