Elgin and Forres Rotary clubs forced to cancel towns' 2021 Bonfire Night events over 'expensive and complex' vaccine passport legislation

THE hugely popular annual Bonfire Night celebrations in Elgin and Forres have once again been forced off the community events calendar.

As new vaccine passport legislation starts to take effect, the Rotary clubs of Elgin and Forres have reluctantly been forced to shelve Guy Fawkes activities for a second year.

Both clubs have previously organised highly successful Bonfire and Fireworks events at Elgin’s Cooper Park and Grant Park in Forres.

Elgin Rotary fireworks team leader Neil Urquhart said: "The need to restrict access to the two parks and the procedures required to check vaccine passports are just too expensive and complex for either club to implement safely.

"We have looked closely at the options and discussed the issue with Moray Council – but there simply isn’t a way for us to go ahead."

The fireworks team leader at Forres Rotary, Carlo Miele, added: "Both clubs are bitterly disappointed to have had to take this decision.

"The Bonfire Night events are always wonderful family events and, having missed last year due to lockdown, we had hoped to give our communities a special event this year."

Both clubs are hopeful that the popular events can be staged in 2022.

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