Maxim

Having read all of this I just give a big sigh. The EU council will have to realise (i shall once again reiterate as many members have previously mentioned) that if you ban any of those chemicals, they can be made via other precursors, some that we use every day and are essential to life. I writhe in jealousy when i read those old fashioned 19th century chemistry articles and hear stories that my senior chemistry teacher tells me about things "back in the day". The psychology just seems so different. Yes we live in a time when terror seems to occur everywhere but at the same time, HSE is making live more and more dull. The reason? I shall leave you all with one of the wisest quotes my chemistry teacher has ever said:

"Unfortunately, we live in a time where nobody knows anything about anything and everybody is scared of everything"

Heya Sam! Im not an expert on this matter but have had enough experience to share at least some of my knowledge on this subject, im pretty sure someone else will also add to the information and/or correct any of my mistakes if i make any.

1. Is it legal for me to make the aforementioned fireworks, on my private property, and use them there..?
At the moment, there is a member on the forum who is actually leading a long term discussion with authorities about possible licensing and leeway when it comes to making compositions. If any progress is made, it will only concern pyrotechnics and not HE but at this present moment, it has actually been considered to remove the 100g rule altogether. Also at this present moment, the authorities are most definitely most concerned about real threats and by real threats i mean people who attempt to order half a tonne of oxidiser and aluminium etc. Please also keep in mind that this forum is almost certainly monitored from time to time and therefore admins and mods make a real effort to remove anything regarding blatant illegal activity.

2. If not, how do i go about getting the correct licenses, for it, and what are the correct licenses?
Right now, there are no manufacturing licenses available. The only licenses you can have are those for storing certain types of explosives and ammunition. From what i heard, people who are into the high powered rocketry modelling can store a limited amount of fuel under a license.

3. I have heard of this 100 gram rule, meaning something like, i can make 100g bp, use it, then make another 100g, and so on. However, would i be allowed to store 2kg of Kno3, 1KG of sulfur, and a load of charcoal, seperately, whilst frequently making these 100g batches?
The 100g rule is quite ambiguous so im going to let someone who knows more about it to carry on from my entrée. You can store any chemicals you like (apart from HE) as they are just chemicals. Compositions are another thing though...

Did this meal ever actually happen?

I, along with everyone else that has expressed their gratitude already, would like to give a special thanks to both Phil C and Phil D for this years AGM. It's quite as simple as Phil D having worked like a dog during the year to actually get together a venue and all the events within the day and Phil C (along with a few helpers) dragging many, many mortars down several flights of stairs, along with Phil also choosing the shells and handling the paperwork along with cleaning up everything after we had all left. Without one or the other, the AGM just simply wouldnt either work or be as fun.

I met many wonderfully interesting people who really contributed to making my weekend the best one in quite a while and I thank you all!

If my contributions to the current situation are helpful, then im glad to help:

1. There just simply is not enough time to rig a display and have EVERYONE attend all of the talks at the same time. Even working throughout the day, the rigging team got a bit nervous about timing, even with extra helpers! Yes, Cat 4 IS dangerous, especially when it comes to crackling pistils but (correct me if i am wrong), unless someone is smoking while handling these shells or doing something even more stupid, they cant pose a significant danger and under the especially competent supervision of experienced riggers (especially those who love to walk in slow motion in fluorescent orange body suits with "Firework Display Operator" on them) it would minimise such risks.

2. Therefore it does look like we need to split the event in two. Perhaps even at different times of the year (perhaps the legally required AGM to be held in the winter months when it is not so tempting to go outside into the wet and cold?). As it has been correctly previously mentioned, fusing sessions could last a lot longer and more active activities can flourish in the summer (i will personally emphasise that an extended fusing workshop, longer opportunities to socialise with possibly a bbq and the firework display at the end would probably be enough to more than satisfy most people).

P.S. Thank you for your special support and appreciation of my talk! I was hoping to turn something potentially boring and dry into something slightly more entertaining and informing for you all to enjoy and I hope I have achieved that!

Im doing the EPQ too but on something a biiit different "How do periods of geopolitical instabilities affect the global price of oil". lol.

An EPQ is generally rather a demanding task as an essay would be about 6000 words or so, depending on the level. Other forms of presentation are also possible such as a video, presentation, play etc. and the qualification is worth half an a-level. Just to quickly outline to those who havnt heard of the Extended Project Qualification

ANYWAY. Id like to ask Matt for some more details about what he plans to do for his EPQ. What form are you doing it in? For all of those who worry about his age, he does not technically even have to lay hands on pyrotechnic materials in order to do the EPQ

Matt, what area of pyro are you most interested in? Your post was a bit vague... perhaps you would like to explore the different constructions of aerial shells and other pyrotechnic devices? Maybe the chemistry of the colours of fire or other things is where you would want to base your primary interests? (Im doing a talk at this years AGM on the chemistry of it all, so maybe attending that would help somewhat )