The Fireworks Bill: John Bennett says it may not be so bad - anyway we're probably going to have to live with it; Cleveland Match Company: Eric Littler shows it's really Astra Fireworks - and presents bengal match nostalgia; Edwin Bailey Obituary by Peter Stone of one of Britain's best loved firework figures

The Good Guy: Chris Case shows how to reduce accidents without draconian legislation; Antipodean Jottings: Barry Sturman on things Down Under; Internet Round Up: Paul Tierney surfs the web for fireworks; Low-Noise Fireworks: John Bennett shows that the RSPCA's "display" was not all it seemed

We remember Lou Nadin: Barry Sturman provides more of the Great Man's writings. He will be sorely missed; Trade News: John Woodhead, Chris Pearce and Tom Smith provide trade insights from the three major trade bodies; The State of the Industry: Ron Lancaster presents his report; Directory of 106 firework companies; Book Reviews: RSPCA's Quiet Please; Groupe F John Bennett; Kosanke's latest offering Chris Pearce

The American Scene: Charles Weeth provides the first of a new column detailing events on the other side of the Pond; The Display Operators' Certificate: The complete syllabus of the training course which all display firers will probably have to take; Firework Authorization: Ron Lancaster steers us through the minefield of CLER and COMAH; When fireworks were big news: Fascinating extract from the Official Guide to the Franco-British Exhibitions of 1908

Letters

Round Up

Editorial

Pictorial Nostalgia - Cleveland, bangers, jumping crackers, firework dummies galore; Pictures from the Cannes 2002 victory

American firework dummies WITH: Don't blame fireworks, let's have more parental responsibility; Don't wet nurse people over fireworks; National Firework Museum gets financial backing, but it's still not open - we still need your help; American consumer firework catalogues; Western Winter Blast; PGI Convention and 4 July; Where you can get firework van models - they're good

New Gunpowder Trail - it's free; Chinese vote to reverse ban on fireworks - and it happens! Fire in touch paper factory; Fires in Liverpool and Manchester; Firework events in 2003; Firework web cams

Collectors' web site; Pathe News on fireworks; Do you want to fire for a firework company? Two opportunities in this issue; The Dog who doesn't mind fireworks

Fireworks are illegal in Australia, so they're aren't any are there? Don't make us laugh!

Insurance rears its ugly head again; Displays in Lahore - it's a laugh but do you get paid?

Jerome Gellini - firework artist extraordinaire; Two responses about the Phoenix / Britannia history; A Trading Standards officer responds; Kosanke course; Responses on Captain Cook from Ron Lancaster and Barry Sturman.

Issue 44 is sponsored by Shellscape Pyrotechnics