Penny for the Guy (1 Viewer)

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

Anyone know when it stopped exactly?

One minute it seemed to be there and then all of a sudden it was gone.

I remember as a kid going door to door and doing it and pretty much every other kid I knew used to do it too. I then remember being grown up and kids comings me knocking on the door for Penny for the Guy, but then it just stopped.

Anyone know when? (And I know I am old, but please don't say 1947, or 1812 etc.).

tommydazzle · Nov 5, 2018

Yes used to do this to buy fireworks. Once cheated and dressed up my brother and wheeled him around in an old wheelbarrow.

Didn't know it had stopped. Thought it might have moved with the times and had kids with mobile cash points and a tenner for the guy.

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Yes used to do this to buy fireworks. Once cheated and dressed up my brother and wheeled him around in an old wheelbarrow.

Didn't know it had stopped. Thought it might have moved with the times and had kids with mobile cash points and a tenner for the guy.

Last time I encountered anyone at my door for Penny for the Guy was at least 20 years ago plus.

Used to be that everyone used to do it.

tommydazzle · Nov 5, 2018

Shame another harmless British tradition of burning a catholic has been upstaged by the American trick or treat rubbish.

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Shame another harmless British tradition of burning a catholic has been upstaged by the American trick or treat rubbish.

Yeah. Penny for the Guy seemed to disappear and Trick or Treat took over.

Great that we still have Bonfire Night, because the Gunpowder Plot is a very important moment in British history.

tommydazzle · Nov 5, 2018

Bonfire night was massive when we were kids. Hallowe'en pretty insignificant. Christmas didn't start until a couple of weeks before the 25th. Nowadays it seems most adults are like overgrown infants the way they fuel the fire of overcommercialisation.

Nick · Nov 5, 2018

The kids of today will never know the excitement and fear when you put an airbomb in a dog shit bin and have to run before you get covered.

itsabuzzard · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Bonfire night was massive when we were kids. Hallowe'en pretty insignificant. Christmas didn't start until a couple of weeks before the 25th. Nowadays it seems most adults are like overgrown infants the way they fuel the fire of overcommercialisation.

Bonfire Night was THE event of the year. Was weeks in the preparation; penny for the Guy paying for fireworks & a big bonfire. Fantastic. Halloween didn't exist. And don't start me on the abomination that is the modern-day Christmas. Grinch comments incoming...

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Nick · Nov 5, 2018

I dont get why people pay so much for really shit fireworks from supermarkets.

£50 quid would get you about a minute's work including lighting them and they are really, really shit.

There are some going off by me at the minute and they must be some dodgy chinese things as they sound like wet farts.

tommydazzle · Nov 5, 2018

Yup every back garden had a bonfire. There were no big organised displays so dad was in charge of the box of Standard Fireworks. Rockets in milk bottles, Catherine wheels nailed to fence posts, jumping jacks chasing you indoors, hot dogs and baked potatoes. I can still smell the woodsmoke, gunpowder and singed flesh.

Nick · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Yup every back garden had a bonfire. There were no big organised displays so dad was in charge of the box of Standard Fireworks. Rockets in milk bottles, Catherine wheels nailed to fence posts, jumping jacks chasing you indoors, hot dogs and baked potatoes. I can still smell the woodsmoke, gunpowder and singed flesh.

They were probably decent off a bloke from down the pub. Not some awful things from ASDA with a fancy box.

You would still be able to smell it in the morning and be chuffed finding a massive rocket in the road.

itsabuzzard · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Yup every back garden had a bonfire. There were no big organised displays so dad was in charge of the box of Standard Fireworks. Rockets in milk bottles, Catherine wheels nailed to fence posts, jumping jacks chasing you indoors, hot dogs and baked potatoes. I can still smell the woodsmoke, gunpowder and singed flesh.

You've brought a tear to my eye.

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tommydazzle · Nov 5, 2018

Apparently modern fireworks are quieter these days - good news for pets I suppose although my dog is oblivious to them anyway. I'd forgotten about finding rockets the next day. The simple pleasures were definitely simpler then.

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

Not sure they are quieter.

Some in particular are really, really loud.

Maybe they are illegal ones.

Nick · Nov 5, 2018

Just had a couple of decent ones go off here. Loud Bangs.

dancers lance · Nov 5, 2018

tommydazzle said:
Apparently modern fireworks are quieter these days - good news for pets I suppose although my dog is oblivious to them anyway. I'd forgotten about finding rockets the next day. The simple pleasures were definitely simpler then.

They are, the law changed a couple of years ago the loudest fireworks that the general public can buy are classed as 1.3G they are about 1/3 as powerful as what used to be allowed, spoil sports.

Marty · Nov 5, 2018

I remember knocking on doors collecting money, my old man would use his old work clothes for the body and we'd fill up it with straw, we had hot dogs and baked potatoes wrapped in tin foil and we'd pull them out of the bonfire a few hours after it was lit, come out charcoaled and black but un-peeling the foil to reval the most tasty food. This was early to mid 90's but I haven't seen this or a Guy Fawkes effigy for years. This has brought back some great memories.

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

dancers lance said:
They are, the law changed a couple of years ago the loudest fireworks that the general public can buy are classed as 1.3G they are about 1/3 as powerful as what used to be allowed, spoil sports.

I think some are modified then, because certain ones are louder than they've ever been.

dancers lance · Nov 5, 2018

Otis said:
I think some are modified then, because certain ones are louder than they've ever been.

Perhaps you are just getting more sensitive in your old age :woot: :headphone:

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

dancers lance said:
Perhaps you are just getting more sensitive in your old age :woot: :headphone:

Thought that, but think it is more likely they are putting them in a metal container or suchlike to amplify the sound.

It's not many, but you get the occasional one that is incredibly loud.

dancers lance · Nov 5, 2018

Otis said:
Thought that, but think it is more likely they are putting them in a metal container or suchlike to amplify the sound.

It's not many, but you get the occasional one that is incredibly loud.

It wouldn't surprise me Otis as most people are dicks.

Johnnythespider · Nov 5, 2018

Otis said:
I think some are modified then, because certain ones are louder than they've ever been.

1.3G is loud enough, they are the ones i bought for Saturday night.

Otis · Nov 5, 2018

Johnnythespider said:
1.3G is loud enough, they are the ones i bought for Saturday night.

Well next time can you not let it off in my messenger bag while it's over my shoulder.

Johnnythespider · Nov 5, 2018

As for penny for the guy, as already mentioned it was replaced by trick or treat. The last time anybody asked me for it was outside the hastings pub at least 30 years ago now.

WhaleOilBeefHooked · Nov 6, 2018

Nick said:
fear when you put an airbomb in a dog shit bin and have to run before you get covered.

Ah, the air bomb.

Used to set off all the posh cars with alarms in my road.

Can you still get these anywhere? No lights, but my god, some of them were like a Hydrogen bomb going off.

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