A pyro technician visited Bridgwater College to explain to over 140 students the demands of putting on a modern day firework display.

Helped by video and many live explosive demonstrations, Matthew Tosh, who works in conjunction with Skyburst, gave two fascinating, very visual, noisy and colourful talks about the many and varied skill set needed for a modern day senior pyro technician.

The lectures were organised by Dr Bob Mudd, Section Leader for Maths and Science, in order to show students studying science and maths qualifications that sometimes it is not the subjects that are important so much as the skill set that you are learning.

Mathew explained how from studying Physics, Chemistry and Maths at A Level, he completed a Physics degree and then had worked in the patent office, as a teacher, on radio and TV, and now as a project supervisor for an international firework display company. He talked about transferrable skills over and over again, mentioned the importance of flexibility and the fact that education gives you choices.

Behind every modern day firework show there are people dealing with events management and the demands of people movement, the complexity and importance of logistics for wiring and electronic detonators, the science and maths of fireworks with equations, and some technical detail. He used a mix of real fireworks to explain sound, colour, height, effect, explosive capability and heat transference, mixed with video of displays he had supervised including Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater Carnival, and the Olympic flame crossing the Clifton Suspension Bridge. He also mentioned the value of project management and teamwork.