BOB Schofield never thought his bonfire night would catch on like it has.

Forty years ago, he invited a few people to his back garden to mark bonfire night.

This year he expects more than 500 people to turn out at Langham Recreation Ground, for what will be his final year at the helm.

He is now on the lookout for someone to take over and keep the annual community event going.

Mr Schofield, who lives in the village, and is now aged in his 70s, said: “It started in my own back garden when I had one or two people over from the village.

“A few years later, I suggested we might move it to the recreation ground.

“At the time, there was a shed there, so we put a few windows in and ran a bar from the shed.

“We also built barbecues from bricks and mesh.

“But it grew and grew and in that time the rec field increased by four acres, which meant we could get a larger fire.”

Mr Schofield, who also runs Schofield Removals, based in Lawford, has about 72 helpers, including his wife Elizabeth, who take charge of jobs ranging from taking money from guests, ordering health and safety equipment and making the soup which is sold.

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