Author: JeffreyDriver

I moved to Littlehampton in 2013, and I was keen to get involved in the local community. I joined the society a few years ago, I’m also on the management team of the Littlehampton Fort Restoration Project, and a member of the Littlehampton Miniature Railway.

I’ve been on the committee for several years, and really hope to continue to help the society thrive. Since I’ve been a member of the society I have used my professional skills and experience to help it. I redeveloped the society website when I became a member, and recently rebuilt it again based upon feedback received from a competition I ran.

I still have a raft of other ideas to help drive up memberships and increase donations. I’m always looking for ways to help the society improve.

I am standing this year as the press officer and anticipate also continuing with the members’
communications and newsletters.

I have been a member for 10 years and actively involved with fundraising and the business of
the society for 9 years. I help with fundraising events, make torches, dip torches, guard the
bonfire, build the bonfire, move road barriers and rake over the bonfire site after the event –
amongst other things. For the last 6 years (or thereabouts) I have been on the committee and
during this time I have undertaken various roles – doing the minutes, press officer, member
communications and newsletters.

I love the whole bonfire season – I attend as many of the out-meetings as I am able to squeeze
in and occasionally carry the banner. I am proud of my Native American costume which I have
created from scratch over several years. Our very own event is predictably my favourite bit of
this whole thing – I do feel a real sense of pride lining up with friends and family on the evening
of the last Saturday in October and seeing all the excited and happy people who have turned
out to enjoy the show!

My wish for the society is that it is enabled with your support to go on and that more generations
of Littlehampton children may enjoy the spectacle of a local torch-light parade, bonfire and
fireworks. If I can be a part of what brings that magic into being, then that is why I put myself
forward to help on the committee again

I have been a member for around 18 years with 12 years on committee, 9 general, 1 vice chair and 2 as chair. Producer of programme for 7 years and banner carrier for 10 years. I am the lorry driver distributing and collecting road signs, cones etc on the day before and the actual day.

Until 2018, minibus driver to out-meetings (we now use our own cars to save society money). I help with Bonfire building/guarding & rotas, help oversee/reply to emails to society and the website until its relaunch in 2019. I have attended the monthly committee meetings and help with various other duties and requirements throughout the year.

After bonfire night when most people have gone home and are tucked up in bed, I and a team of helpers are again going around and collecting road signs etc. to store away until the following year. We don’t get to bed much before 4am!

I have been a member for over 19 years, this coming year (2024) will be my 20th year as a member. My wife and family are also involved in the Society and have been for many years. I have always taken an active role in contributing to the preparations and planning for this bonfire extravaganza that we hold annually in our town. I first became involved after seeing an ad in the Littlehampton Gazette asking for Marshals to assist with Crowd Control. I marshalled for many years and gradually began to progress with my involvement in all aspects of bonfire.

I take pride and a great deal of achievement as well as enjoyment in supporting the Bonfire Society at various events throughout the year with Fundraising, Torch making, Torch Dipping, Marshalling, Bonfire Building and Guarding etc.

During Bonfire season I go to as many out-meetings as I can attend, including parading through the streets of Littlehampton on our night and at out-meetings in my own Traditional Native American Indian costume which I am proud to wear.

Whilst I love the social side of the bonfire events, I also get great satisfaction from taking an active role within the society. I joined the committee in 2011 but had a short break away in 2018. I have been Society Chairman for the past four years and hopefully will be able to continue to support the organisation, taking it forward into the 21st century and continuing to be the voice of the Society for the foreseeable future. In 2020, I became Commander in Chief Elect, in 2021, I was duly elected as Commander in Chief which was my first ever year being responsible for the overall preparation, planning and running a safe event for approximately 30,000 spectators (as a guide provided by our partners in previous years). Since then, I have completed two successful events with a good safety record and good feedback from SAG partners. In 2023, both as Society Chairman & Event Commander in Chief I experienced my first ever cancellation along with many challenges with severe weather conditions.

During the planning stages during the year on each event I have worked closely with our Society safety representative, ADC, and all other partners. I am again standing for the positions of Society Chairman & Event Commander in Chief and hope to continue to build on the founded relationships that I have established with SAGs and other partners. After holding two previous major events, I hope to build on that new founded knowledge and experience. I am someone that learns from feedback and past events that I have not only witnessed but lead in order to improve and refine not only next year’s event but that of any future events.

I was appointed as a director in late 2020, this was due to wishing to continue to further support existing Directors and to assist in the continuation of the Society.

During my four years as Society Chairman I have introduced new policies, restructured the committee to try and ensure it remains productive and ensure everyone comes together to achieve the Societies main goal of holding an event for our town to enjoy.

In my professional life I work within the public sector, dealing with the public and handling intricate issues and situations which provide me with vast experience and knowledge when it comes to working with the Safety Advisory Group and completing complex event documents such as our event management plans etc. Within my role I have experience of working with Community Partners to solve problems and deal with a wide range of Community issues.

I have lived and worked in Littlehampton my entire life. I used to run David O Jones sports shop in the town & I retired in 2009.

I have collected for the bonfire society for 48 years and joined as a member in 1990. I have no specific role within the society but am heavily involved in the fundraising side of things, including the market stalls.

I act as a general dogs’ body; helping to distribute the newsletters, put up posters, organise help with and run the monthly town market stall. I help with transport to out-meetings and fill in wherever I am able. Members can come in to see me in the shop for any help they may need. I help obtain sponsorship and am responsible for the distribution of the programmes.

I am a Director of the Limited company, The Littlehampton Bonfire Society Ltd. I attend all out-meetings as a travelling collector. I attend the majority of the committee meetings.

I first joined the society in 2005 by going on a few memorable out meetings. The crowds were huge, but the buzz was just as big. During my time with the society, I have helped in many ways with helping build the bonfire some years, and many long hours guarding. A few times I put my hand to making the torches, but my main duties were being a marshal along the seafront for our event which over the years has been both fun and hectic.

I remember the locals’ celebs that we had living along the terrace coming out and joining in the fun, such as late Ziggy Byfield and Alan Minter. Many of times whilst on duty he would see me walking up and down the road making sure everyone was in a safe position and when I had a few minutes he would shout me over for a quick coffee.

I love to see the children’s faces light up when the floats and groups walk past and then grin from ear to ear seeing the different costumes from all the different societies walk past. Every year I see those children’s faces when the bonfire is lit and the fireworks are exploding high in the sky and I say to myself, yes, we’ve done a good job and the children are happy.

My goal is to see my local community year in year out supporting LBS so we can support local charities in our area.

My current role of Director and chief Parade Marshal is different from what I have been used to, but with the many years of experience that I have doing Marshalling duties, Bonfire Building, guarding and many other endless tasks with the help of friends and those I’ve previously worked with, I’m confident that I can continue to support the community and the society in the future as we strive to prepare, plan, and put on safe and enjoyable events for all.

Hello

My name is Lyn Baker and I have been a member of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society for several years now.

As a child, I always loved watching the annual bonfire procession with my family, the bonfire and the fireworks. I loved the costumes and the sheer enjoyment everyone had in watching such a spectacle.
I initially joined the Bonfire Society as I felt it would be something lovely to do with my sister, Sue and I thought how wonderful it would be to dress up in a Native American costume and actually be a part of the procession, not just watch.

I became more involved with the Society and have, for several years now, helped with the torch making and with many aspects needed for bonfire week to set up and clear away afterwards, and help guard the bonfire. I have gone with the society to many Out Meetings to other towns when able to do so and represent the Society with others. I also help on some Market Stalls throughout the year fundraising. We currently have a Bonfire Pop up Shop and I help out there most weeks, fundraising for the society.

In 2022 I joined the Committee and immediately got working with the Vendors. I then got involved with the taking of the Minutes of the Committee meetings, and then the contacting of prospective marshalls to help us at our annual event. In 2023 I became Secretary for the Littlehampton Bonfire Society. I am now the Secretary and Minutes Secretary for the society.

I believe that I have a lot to offer the Society, and hope that, with help, I will not let the Society down. I have always been a hardworking, enthusiastic member of a team and can work independently with confidence. I am good with people.

I first became aware of LBS in 2012 when my then boyfriend was helping.

I have not looked back since. I am now married to said Boyfriend and have been helping myself with the bonfire society since around 2015, starting off by doing torch collections after the parade for the last few years. Last year I had a role change that I loved doing which was as a note-taker in the control room during the event.

I am now also Membership Secretary for the Littlehampton Bonfire Society.
I am a unit manager in St John Ambulance in Chichester, running Badgers for children aged between 5 and 10, teaching them life skills as well as first aid, I myself being an advanced first aider. I hold an RSA level 2 in administration. I have 6 children and 2 grandchildren and am married to William.

First got involved with LBS back in 2002 while I was working on work experience at Littlehampton town council. We had to drop all the crowd barriers to the seafront and, on the day of the event, place all “no parking cones”. Then, in the evening, collect all the old torches. I did this till 2009.
In 2010 I started helping LBS on event day by just doing torch collection.

I became a member in 2011, and have been a member ever since with my roles being:
loading and placing road signs, firework safety area and torch collection.

In 2022 I became more involved in helping Barry work out the number of barriers needed and road signs etc.

Outside of LBS I am a unit manager for St John Ambulance in Chichester and I also own my own gardening business. I am married to my wife Tanya, and have 6 kids.

Started back in 2021 as a member of LBS helping with Bonfire building, Bonfire Guarding and helping with the barriers. On the night itself I was supporting the Bonfire Area.

2022 was the same as the previous year above. Also helped run barriers.
2023 I was allocated as Deputy Captain of Bonfire in support of the Captain of Bonfire. I also helped run barriers. I also helped build the Bonfire as well as guarding.

I would like to be considered for Officer Captain of Bonfire to work along the CIC to make sure the site is in good shape and ready for when the torches arrive. I will also make sure the site runs under all instructions.

My name is Joan Newman and I have been involved with the bonfire in
various ways. I am currently in the role of helping to set up
fundraisers to involve members and non members to have fun whilst
helping to raise money for the bonfire.

I’ve been involved in the bonfire for the past 10 years, first as a contractor providing the road closure teams, and now as a member of the team that helps put together with night itself.

My day job is in the NHS Ambulance Service, and I feel I bring a wealth of knowledge in event management and safety to ensure the day runs as smoothly as possible with the team.