Maurice Evans, Firework Collector
Maurice Evans has been collecting fireworks since childhood and, at over eighty years old, owns the most extensive collection in the country. Visiting his home in Shoreham brought both excitement and some apprehension.
Maurice eased worries about explosions by explaining he removes the gunpowder from his fireworks. However, his wife Kit revealed that Catherine Wheels and Bangers still contain gunpowder since removing it would ruin them.
“Let’s just say, if there’s a big bang in the neighbourhood, the police always come here first to see if it’s me,”
said Maurice with a teasing smile.
Kit added playfully,
“Which it often isn’t.”
Maurice shared that his interest began with his father, who worked in munitions during the First World War. He found his father’s trunk filled with diagrams about explosives, sparking his curiosity.
He also recalled that during World War II, the South Downs served as a training ground, where he and friends discovered many shells. They would often set them off despite the risks.
His collection includes World War II shells stored in the cellar and a steel shed in the garden housing live fireworks.
Summary
Maurice Evans’s lifelong passion for fireworks grew from family history and wartime adventures, resulting in one of the nation's largest and most remarkable collections.