We watched the various fireworks from the vantage point of Donnington Castle (with my camera, a mug of soup and a sausage roll
), and the display launched from near the Carnarvon Arms (at a rough guess) was considerably better than the racecourse display.
Not a complaint, as we did not contribute to either display, but I was expecting a more impressive display from the racecourse - having worked on firework displays in the past, I did not think highly of it at all!
Although, of course, if everyone did as we did, it would not be possible to fund any fireworks displays, since they're so expensive...
[In terms of the laser pointer story, I would be a little surprised if a laser point shone from behind someone - given that the OP needed to turn round to rebuke the alleged miscreant - was causing that person a nuisance, or was even noticeable!]