About

Here is a brief account from our Founder… Graham, who’s passion for Fireworks is well known in our industry… Graham replied to our question. :

“Well, I think I could write several books about my firework adventures, but here is a brief history for the book.

I have always loved fireworks for as long as I can remember. My parents used to buy a five-shilling box of Standard Fireworks, and I was enthralled when they were lit in our garden. Over the next few years, the budget increased to a £1 box—quite a big assortment at the time. Included were Catherine wheels, a Tornado Wheel, Roman candles, Jack-in-the-boxes, fountains, and a huge jumping jack that went off like a machine gun. These were topped up with a few Lion brand rockets from the shop next door.

As I got older, I used to save up my pocket money for the big night. Come October, I would wander around the shops, waiting to see who had fireworks in stock first. It was usually Curry’s Electrical—if you can believe that. They had a mouth-watering selection of Brocks Fireworks in huge glass counters in the basement area of the shop. At the time, you could choose from a big selection of loose fireworks on display in glass cases. Soon, other shops would display their fireworks too. It was very exciting. Most were Standard, Brocks, Astra, and Pains (probably my favourite), although I did sometimes come across Wilders, Lion, Rainbow, and Wessex. We never had Wells in our area, so I missed out there.

I later discovered my father was involved in a fireworks company when he was younger, but I don’t have any details—it was long before I came along, I believe.

As I got older, I had a variety of jobs, including electronics and tropical fish. Electronics came in useful later in life as firing systems were developed. My love of fireworks never diminished, and eventually, my wife Christine and I set up Sandling Fireworks. Luckily for me, she has always loved fireworks too! People always asked about the name. Well, we came up with all sorts of ideas, but then decided to name it after the house we lived in at the time. People confused us with Standard Fireworks, although that wasn’t the intention! I was certainly not welcome in the firework trade at the time—it was a very tight-knit community, and certain people didn’t want young whippersnappers with new ideas joining the band. Eventually, I proved myself, was accepted, and joined the BPA, BFA, and EIG. I was often on various committees with HSE Explosives, the then DTI, and Trading Standards. I think I did a good job of representing not just the industry, but firework lovers too.

Eventually, I got my Import Licence, then an HSE Explosives Manufacturing Licence. We operated from an old wartime site at the local airport. We had one of only two licensed explosives factories within an airport perimeter—the other being Theatrical Pyrotechnics at Manston Airport, I believe.

At our peak, we had a full-time team of staff who produced candle batteries and bouquets, mines, large wheels, set pieces, waterfalls, and lancework all year round. As some of the big UK firework factories ceased production, we were able to buy up stocks of components from Astra and Brocks, which came in very handy. We had several storage magazine sites dotted around the country and imported from China, Taiwan, Spain, Italy, and even Australia. We also bought in products from Malta and Mexico, and we even had a few Russian items. We produced a wide range of firework packs both for ourselves and for other firework companies.

Eventually, new EU regulations came in around 2013 and put a stop to just about all UK manufacturing, due to the huge cost of compliance. We survived where others fell by the wayside. We continue to sell packs of imported fireworks—mostly rockets, cakes, and single-ignition fireworks. To be fair, times had moved on by then, and the demand for wheels, candle bouquets, lancework, etc., was dwindling, although we do still get asked”.