30 years ago I held my clubs Black Powder licence.
We were very careful and bought prepared electrical fired charges that were waterproof from Standard Fireworks.
45 years ago I used to grind my own gunpowder from sulphur, potassium nitrate, charcoal and a little aluminium powder. We used to carefully break the ends off light bulbs, fill the globe with the powder, seal it, attach the wires to a 12v car battery and let them off in the canal.
We didn't care much about safety, not at all about a licence, and the adults around us didn't seem to care either. I remember happily letting one set of charges off in front of a small crowd of admiring spectators which included the village policeman. How things have changed.....
