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 I’m an active volunteer at the Littlehampton Miniature Railway when schedule allows.

I’ve been on the committee for several year, 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.

There are personal reasons for wanting to see the society endure for many years to come, such as my kid, who loves being involved with the society, and I want him to continue to enjoy it (and my potential grandchildren too!) Outside of personal reasons, the society is also a huge force for good, raising money for local charities and groups, and I enjoy knowing that it brings pleasure to many people. More than ever, the local community needs support during these difficult times.

Hi, my name is Stuart. I have been a member for around two decades. I help out on the market stall and go to the out meetings helping to carry the banner on occasions. I also help set up stalls at fundraisers such as Armed Forces day. I help with the guarding and bonfire building and like meeting people. I enjoy being a member and like being on the committee as I would like to give more help to the society to make it be as good as it can be. I have always wanted to be a member from when I was a kid and plus my auntie and uncle have also been members in the past. I love our motto ‘burn to do good’

Although I have loved the spectacle and magic of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s annual event since I first went as a child (excepting for the Zulu with the bone through his nose – he always scared me), my first outings with a Sussex bonfire group was with Lindfield (a friend invited me along). I really loved going to out-meetings with Lindfield and then at one meeting I saw some people dressed in North American Native dress. I was wearing my smugglers stripes and it hit me: I live in Littlehampton, why was I marching with Lindfield? So I went to see Tyn, paid my subs and joined the line-up for our event.

The following year I joined the ranks of the regular fund-raising and the torch-making teams. Giving some of my time to these events helped me to feel a real part of the society and the following year when I lined up on our night I felt that this time I had earned the right to be there!
Several years ago there was a vacancy on the committee and they were looking for help: someone to take over writing the newsletters. I had no experience of doing anything like that, but I offered my support and have been doing the newsletters for several years now.

Over time I also took on writing the minutes and liaising with the press and radio stations as necessary. But all of these bonfire jobs, on top of working full time in a senior nursing role in the local NHS trust, was hard going and eventually I had to ask for help – that was when my sister, Lyn took over responsibility for the minutes.

I am standing this year for the minutes and press officer roles. The current committee plans to review several of the job descriptions and I am not expecting to also continue writing the newsletters.
The committee has had its share of problems in recent years, but recently once again we have been able to put on successful, popular and spectacular events – our platinum jubilee last year was awesome! It has felt so amazing to be lining up again with friends, family and fellow bonfire enthusiasts. And the happy faces in the crowds more than makes up for all the effort involved.

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 for roles 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 15 years, 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 add in the Littlehampton Gazette asking for Marshals to assist with Crowd Control. I did this for quite several events 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 three 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 completed two successful events with a good safety record and good feedback from SAG partners. 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 position of 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 successful 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 years 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.

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 & 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 approx 45 years & 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 & make the torches, 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 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 meeting.

Hi, my name is Siobhan and I’ve been a member of the society for a few years now and loved walking in the parade. I’ve watched the parade and fireworks since I was a baby in a pram!

I’ve been on the committee for the past year and really loved being able to get more involved and helping out.

Bonfire night is one of my favourite nights of the year.

I’ve enjoyed being part of the team that works so hard to put on such a marvellous event.
I would like to continue being on the committee to help bring new ideas and help put on one of Littlehamptons best evenings and raising money for our charities.

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.

My wife and I have been members of Littlehampton Bonfire Society for 39 years during this time we have spent many happy hours with our bonfire buddies.ln the past I have had the honour of being chairman.

We have taken part in many outmeetings and travelled many miles and driven the mini bus on numerous occasions.

One of the most memorable was the party in Hyde Park, London for the Saint Johns Ambulance Brigade centenary.We caught a special train from Barnham. Other memorable events were the Special Olympics, held at the Withdrawn Stadium Brighton, The Lord Mayor of Westminster’s new year parade.We took part in the torch light procession at the end of The Arundel Festival unfortunately this does not run anymore. A pity as this is a fantastic setting for a torch light procession. We have been to Lewes on the 5th many times.

We have participated in many street collections, Littlehampton Carnival now alass defunct, Bognor Carnival and the Illuminations Gala, the gala had torch light procession. I guess health and safety killed that ,Worthing Carnival,Ashington Carnival, Rustington Carnival when it had a procession.
Our involvement with our own event has varied from bonfire building and guarding to building Miss Bonfire floats, marshalling torch dipping and laterally I have been acting as Captain of Bonfire. In the distant past we did not have a caravan and used to sit in our cars and only guarded the fire up to the small hours.Unfortunately the fire was set alight by hooligans twice so we had to guard 24hours a day from the commencement of building until the fire brigade put out the ashes on the Monday night after the celebrations.

We have been involved with fundraising events, May Fair, both Manning stalls and collecting plants that local nurseries donated.We have been on theatre trips to London and Southampton, we have enjoyed quiz nights, skittles evenings. I still help out with the monthly market stall and sort and sell books to the book companies.

We both look forward to a few more years of helping the society.

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. 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.

I have lived in Littlehampton since the age of 3 and my children grew up here. I now have a grandchild who also lives in Littlehampton with my daughter and partner. My granddaughter, Jessica Wells was our Bonfire Princess this year, and she loved it. I was always involved on committees to do with my children as they grew up, at play group and schools until they started senior school.

I love walking, line dancing and other activities.

I have worked with the public most of my working life, starting at Woolworths on the sweet counter and tills when a teenager. I left college and worked for Dando’s Drilling in the office as a bought ledger/wages clerk for 2 years before leaving to work in the Building Society industry, both before having my 2 children, and for many years after. I left Abbey National and worked for the local authority, Arun District Council in housing for 17 years before leaving employment in October 2020.
Last year I joined the Committee and immediately got working with the Vendors who I believe I worked well with; this role includes working with Events at Arun District Council to organise the Street Trading Licences required. I then took on the Minutes of the Committee meetings, taking notes at the meetings, typing up the Minutes and distributing them to the LBS members. I also got involved with the Marshalls, contacting individuals and groups of volunteers to help the society bonfire night, and working with both Barry and Tyndall to draw up the list of volunteers before passing the details over to Barry and Glenn to contact and finalise everything ready for our big bonfire event.

I am now putting my name forward for the role of Secretary for Littlehampton Bonfire Society as my colleague; Joan Newman is stepping down this year. 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 hard working, 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 since around 2015 by starting off 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 notetaker in the control room during the event.

I am a unit manager in St John Ambulance in Chichester running Badgerd for children aged between 5 and 10 teaching them life skills as well as first aid, I myself am also 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 2015/16 as photographer. Carried that on for about 3 years, including video. Have done the bonfire guarding for about 5 years, same this year.

During all this I have managed to get many a photo and constantly post videos both normal and drone throughout the event week.

I would like to be considered for the committee to bring fresh ideas and to support the committee at future events.

My main interests are social media which l have many ideas about to promote the LBS

Bonfire Bio
I have been with The Littlehampton Bonfire Society since 2021 and what joy it has been. I have help the society in many ways such as:

• Guarding the Bonfire for three nights.
• Helping build the Bonfire.
• Helping put the barriers out (town & around the bonfire site).
• Bonfire Duty for the main event.

What can I bring to the committee?
As a bright person, I will be able to support other members / Leaders of the committee, bring ideas and help problem solve. I do most of those things on a daily basis with my college course in Theatre.

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 I’m an active volunteer at the Littlehampton Miniature Railway when schedule allows.

I’ve been on the committee for several year, 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.

There are personal reasons for wanting to see the society endure for many years to come, such as my kid, who loves being involved with the society, and I want him to continue to enjoy it (and my potential grandchildren too!) Outside of personal reasons, the society is also a huge force for good, raising money for local charities and groups, and I enjoy knowing that it brings pleasure to many people. More than ever, the local community needs support during these difficult times.

Hi, my name is Stuart. I have been a member for around two decades. I help out on the market stall and go to the out meetings helping to carry the banner on occasions. I also help set up stalls at fundraisers such as Armed Forces day. I help with the guarding and bonfire building and like meeting people. I enjoy being a member and like being on the committee as I would like to give more help to the society to make it be as good as it can be. I have always wanted to be a member from when I was a kid and plus my auntie and uncle have also been members in the past. I love our motto ‘burn to do good’

Although I have loved the spectacle and magic of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s annual event since I first went as a child (excepting for the Zulu with the bone through his nose – he always scared me), my first outings with a Sussex bonfire group was with Lindfield (a friend invited me along). I really loved going to out-meetings with Lindfield and then at one meeting I saw some people dressed in North American Native dress. I was wearing my smugglers stripes and it hit me: I live in Littlehampton, why was I marching with Lindfield? So I went to see Tyn, paid my £5 and joined the line-up for our event.

The following year I joined the ranks of the regular fund-raising and the torch-making teams. Giving some of my time to these events helped me to feel a real part of the society and the following year when I lined up on our night I felt that this time I had earned the right to be there!

Several years ago there was a vacancy on the committee and they were looking for help: someone to take over writing the newsletters. I had no experience of doing anything like that, but I offered my support and have been doing the newsletters for several years now.

When Chris Alderton needed to step away a few years ago as the minutes secretary, I was asked if I would take on the job. Since then I have done my very best to maintain the high standards required for the job.
The last several years have been very challenging on the committee. One may imagine that not putting on an event would significantly reduce the work of the roles on the committee. Whilst we didn’t make many torches last year or hold the usual number of fund-raising events, there have been many meetings to write the minutes for and newsletters to be prepared. Also, I write the press releases and have to prepare for the various radio interviews necessary.

Thankfully, wonderfully last year we were able to host a bonfire event again for the first time in several years! It felt so amazing to be lining up again with friends, family and fellow bonfire enthusiasts. And the happy faces in the crowds more than made up for the years of struggle.

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 torchlight 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 for the roles again.

I have been a member for the last 6 years after hearing that the society desperately needed a secretary to be able to continue. I was originally a member from the age of 5 until my late teens. The job has changed a lot over the last few years, with many more hoops to jump through behind the scenes. However, we have a great committee and work hard to get the event on.

I have worked in the office of a local company for over 30 years managing accounts, banking, and wages. I also volunteer at a local school hearing the children read (retired qualified Teacher working with Adults with learning disabilities) and I am also a licensed chaperone to enable children up to the age of 16 to be able to participate in theatres and dancing performances. I am a crafter and hold a craft market once a month. I am also involved in my grandchildren’s lives whenever and wherever possible.

I help with the society’s fundraising at the many stalls and the May fair whenever I can, and go to many out-meetings for the society.

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 14 years, 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 add in the Littlehampton Gazette asking for Marshals to assist with Crowd Control. I did this for quite several events 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 two 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). During the planning stages in 2021 I worked closely with our Society safety representative, ADC, and all other partners. I am again standing for the position of Commander in Chief and hope to continue to build on the founded relationships that I have established with SAGs and other partners. After holding such a successful event in 2021, 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 years 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.

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 & 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 approx 45 years & 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 & make the torches, 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 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 meeting.

I have been a member of LBS since 2017, and became actively involved in the society in 2018 when I took over the role of membership secretary.

I have helped out with various fundraising activities, and started going to the bonfire outmeetings with my son Dudley in 2019 who loves the processions!

I am one of the core members of the “torch making team”.

I am the Productivity Manager at an asbestos company in Brighton.

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.

My wife and I have been members of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society for 38 years, during this time we have spent many happy hours with our bonfire buddies.

We have taken part in many outmeetings and travelled many miles, one of the most memorable was the party in Hyde Park, London for the Saint Johns Ambulance Brigade centenary. We caught a special train from Barnham. Other memorable events were the Special Olympics, held at the Withdrawn Stadium Brighton, The Lord Mayor of Westminster’s new year parade. We took part in the torchlight procession at the end of The Arundel Festival, unfortunately, this does not run any more. A pity as this is a fantastic setting for a torchlight procession. We have been to Lewes on the 5th many times.

We have participated in many street collections, Littlehampton Carnival now alas defunct, Bognor Carnival, and the Illuminations Gala, the gala had a torchlight procession. I guess health and safety killed that, Worthing Carnival, Ashington Carnival.

Our involvement with our own event has varied from bonfire building and guarding to building Miss Bonfire floats, marshalling, and laterally I have been acting as Captain of Bonfire. In the distant past, we did not have a caravan and used to sit in our cars and only guarded the fire up to the small hours. Unfortunately, the fire was set alight by hooligans twice, so we had to guard 24 hours a day from the commencement of building until the fire brigade put out the ashes on the Monday night after the celebrations.

We have been involved with fundraising events, May Fair, both Manning stalls, and collecting plants that local nurseries donated. We have been on theatre trips to London and Southampton, we have enjoyed quiz nights, skittles evenings. I still help out with the monthly market stall and sort and sell books to the book companies.

We both look forward to a few more years of helping the society.