Author: JeffreyDriver

Local charities are hoping that spectators at Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s Traditional Celebrations on Saturday 29th October will show their appreciation by donating as generously as possible to the collection buckets and help to achieve another record collection. The society’s current record of £9,122 is also the all-time highest street collection at any Sussex bonfire and carnival celebrations. Despite ever increasing costs of staging the event, every penny of the street collection goes to the charities and good causes the society supports.

The beneficiaries this year will include the Sussex Squids, Wick Dynamos Junior Football Club, Enable Me and the West Downs Neighbourhood Watch Task Force.

Explained Bob Jones of the Sussex Squids,

‘Sussex Squids is a competitive swimming club for people of all ages with disabilities, run entirely by volunteers on a non profit basis. We currently have over 40 club members and are always looking for more to join as swimmers and volunteers. We are seeking funds towards promoting the awareness of the club to reach more people who could benefit from its activities including launching a web site and printing new posters and flyers, as well as the on-going costs of running the club such as pool hire costs.’

Dee Diprose commented on behalf of Wick Dynamos Junior Football Club,

‘The club was formed in 1968 and has grown from one team to a club with 12 teams with ages ranging from 6 to 16, including one girls only team. Most of the children are from the Littlehampton area but we have players from all the surrounding area. We have been offered the opportunity to have a base of our own at the Arun Sports Arena in Ford. This will provide better facilities, in particular indoor training facilities for use in bad weather. It will also enable the club to hold its 6 a side tournament again, which it was unable to hold this season. The club will use its donation from the street collection at these celebrations towards the purchase of two sets of goals at the new base in Ford.’

Local charity Enable Me will use their donation to support their disabled volunteers. Said spokesman Sue Pegrum,

‘Enable Me provides high quality bespoke services designed and delivered by disabled people. Our activities include work in education, training, disability access audits, volunteering and community fundraising with our disabled volunteers for social inclusion. We require funding towards the expenses of our disabled volunteers, whose participation in the charity’s mission is extremely beneficial for their physical and emotional health and wellbeing, helping to improve their self-esteem and their sense of making a contribution to their own community. We currently have approximately 20 volunteers who we have to train, transport, support on site, DBS check, treat to outings and much more.’

Tim Drew of The West Downs Neighbourhood Watch Task Force is delighted the group will benefit from the street collections.

‘The West Downs Neighbourhood Watch Task Force is a self contained team comprising over 50 members throughout the West Downs area. We can assist in any operations where tasks can be delegated to free up trained professionals for more important work. Our well established call out procedure ensures an early response to local incidents and disasters, such as manning cordons or knocking on doors if an evacuation is needed. In recent months the team has carried out a range of activities from leaflet drops to marshalling local events and has been written into the Littlehampton Flood Plan following its work in the floods of 2014.’

In order to achieve a new record collection the society is urging more teams of collectors to enter their ‘Collection Challenge‘. Explained Richard Cooper, secretary of the society,

‘We need more teams of collectors to come forward. We are asking for teams of people to give up a few hours to collect during the evening of our celebrations, along the procession route, and at the bonfire and firework sites. There is no limit to the number of members in each team. By law all collectors must be over the age of 16, although children can accompany an adult collector. The team that collects the most money will be presented with The Frances Harrison Trophy and receive a £100 donation to a charitable cause of their choice. The runners up will receive the Laura May’s Collection Challenge Cup, together with a donation of £50 to their chosen charitable cause. The third placed group will receive The Henry Shine Memorial Cup and similarly a donation of £25.’

Entry forms for the Collection Challenge are now available from David O. Jones, High Street, Littlehampton or call Tyndall Jones on 01903 713146.

Times for the bonfire, firework display and processions are to be found in the Bonfire Night programmes, now on sale in shops in Littlehampton, Wick, Rustington and East Preston and at the Look and Sea Centre, River Road, Littlehampton. See the society’s website www.littlehamptonbonfiresociety.co.uk for programme stockists.

‘Celebrate safely’ is the message from the Littlehampton Bonfire Society Safety Advisory Group to spectators attending the town’s Bonfire Night on Saturday 29th October.

Commented bonfire society secretary, Richard Cooper,

‘Local residents and spectators can help to make it a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone by following the simple advice in the safety leaflet which is being distributed with our Bonfire Night programmes. We hope that everyone will follow this advice, to ensure the safety of both themselves and those around them.’

Residents and spectators must not attempt to park along the procession routes, which are subject to road closure orders. The emergency services have also requested that they park responsibly, allowing space for emergency vehicles to pass if necessary. Arun District Council and Sussex Police will be enforcing no parking regulations in roads subject to road closures, and any vehicles illegally parked will be ticketed and towed to Fontwell. Statutory fees will be charged for their release. In the event of any damage to vehicles, owners may also find that their insurance is invalid if the vehicle is illegally parked. Car parking bays in Sea Road will be closed all day and evening.

Roads subject to road closure orders and parking restrictions, and the times affected, are as follows:

* Maltravers Rd, Fitzalan Rd (South from East St junction), Maltravers Drive

o No parking from 12 noon to 11:00pm

o Road Closure from 4:30pm to 11:00pm

* Granville Rd, Selborne Rd (from Granville Rd to St Winefrides Rd junctions), St Winefrides Rd, Church Street, Manor Parade, St Catherine’s Rd, South Terrace (east from junction with St Catherine’s Road), Norfolk Rd (from South Terrace to Sea Rd), Sea Rd (from Norfolk Rd to swimming centre)

o No parking from 4:00pm to 10:30pm

o Road Closure from 7:00pm to 10:30pm

* Beach Rd (from East Street junction to the War Memorial)

o No parking from 12 noon to 10:30pm

o Road Closure from 4:45pm to 5:45pm and from 7:00pm to 10:30pm

* New Road, Surrey Street (to junction with High Street precinct)

o No parking from 12 noon to 5:45pm

o Road Closure from 4:45pm to 5:45pm

* St Flora’s Rd (from junction with Parkside Avenue to Sportsman roundabout), Berry Lane (junction with St Flora’s Rd to junction with Southway)

o No parking St Flora’s Rd (25 metres either side of junction with Parkside Avenue) from 4:00pm to 9:15pm

o No parking Berry Lane (junction with The Winter Knoll to 25 metres west of junction with Southway) from 4:00pm to 9:15pm

o Road Closure from 7:00pm to 9:15pm

* Beach Rd (south of junction with Maltravers Rd)

o No parking from 12 noon to 11:00pm

o Road Closure from 3:00pm to 11:00pm

* East Street (from junction with Anchor Springs to junction with High Street)

o Road Closure from 7:00pm to 10:30pm

The Banjo Road car park will be closed from 6.00p.m. on Friday 28th October. The East Green car park will be closed from 8.00a.m. on Friday 28th October and will remain closed for the whole day on Saturday 29th October.

The do’s and don’ts to take note of if you are planning to come along to the celebrations are as follows:

Timetable

The times of the main events during the evening and details of the procession routes are to be found in the Bonfire Night programme, on sale at local shops, and in the High Street precinct on the morning of the celebrations. See the society’s website www.littlehamptonbonfiresociety.co.uk for programme stockists.

Alcohol

Please do not bring any alcohol with you as the whole of the event takes place within the alcohol exclusion zone. The police may confiscate and dispose of it.

Don’t play with fireworks

Do not set off fireworks in the street. It is both dangerous and illegal, and carries a £5,000 fine. Do not bring sparklers – they can be dangerous in a crowded environment.

Don’t pick up torches

Keep away from discarded torches, they may still be hot. Do not attempt to pick up discarded torches – they have been put down because they are no longer safe to hold. Do not place litter in the water butts which are for extinguishing torches. Keep clear of the rear of the processions to allow the marshals to pick up the discarded torches. Keep windows along the procession routes closed to avoid the risk of fire from flying embers.

Keep behind barriers

Keep out of the bonfire, fireworks and float dispersal safety areas. Keep on the pavements as the processions pass, and behind the crowd barriers which you will find at certain points along the procession route. Do not allow children to sit on the kerb, or push prams or pushchairs into the road while the procession is passing by. If you haven’t got a good view of the procession, move to a less densely crowded part of the route. Do not attempt to walk on or cross the road while the processions are passing by. Wear suitable non-flammable clothing. Do not shine any laser beams directly at participants or members of the crowd – it is extremely dangerous to do so.

Children

Lost children will be taken to St John Ambulance Mobile Base in Banjo Road.

First aid

A St John Ambulance first aid point will be located in Banjo Road on the seafront. St John Ambulance personnel will also be found in the processions and along the procession routes.

In an emergency

In the event of an emergency you are asked to quickly respond to directions given by marshals and / or the emergency services. Be aware of the knee rail fence around the perimeter of The Green, especially if The Green has to be evacuated in an emergency.

Charities and good causes which benefit the local community have received £9,468 from Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s street collections at the society’s 2015 traditional bonfire celebrations and other fund raising events.

The main beneficiaries, the Air Training Corps 1087 (Arun Valley) Squadron, the Warrior Scout Explorer Unit Littlehampton and Arundel Scouts and the St John Ambulance, each received £1,500. Other beneficiaries included CancerWise and Worthing Churches Homeless Projects who each received £650.

Explained Steven Mountain, chairman of the Civilian Committee of the Air Training Corps,

‘A major activity of the squadron is the Duke of Edinburgh awards. These involve outdoor activities including long overnight expeditions and a large amount of field craft work. The squadron part funds the cadets through the bronze, silver and gold stages and this qualification is a very useful one for the young people on their CV when going out into the job world. Our funding will be used for new equipment to enable us to continue with these activities, including tents, sleeping bags and camouflage Bashas.’

Bob Purcell, Explorer Scout Leader of the Warrior Scouts commented,

‘The unit is open to young people aged between 14 and 18 years from existing scout groups or new to scouting, able bodied or with disabilities. We offer scouting skills such as respect, team building and community responsibility, and can be seen at most community and scouting events supporting younger scouts and collecting money for worthy causes. We are currently trying to raise funds for new polo shirts, the cost of expeditions for those unable to afford them, annual capitation and insurance costs and specialist equipment to enable disabled explorer scouts to take part in activities.’

St John Ambulance will use their donation to fund training equipment for the local district. Said spokesman Simon Taplin,

‘The charity is in need of casualty simulation kits for use of its six volunteer trainers based at Chichester. These trainers, along with others, cover all of the training requirements in District 4, which includes Littlehampton, including our new Emergency Medical Technicians. The simulation kits make the casualty look ill and realistic enough to perform a correct diagnosis.’

People affected by cancer will benefit from the society’s donation to CancerWise. Emma Neno from the charity explained,

‘CancerWise helps and supports anyone affected by cancer – not just the patients but also their family members and carers. We provide individual counselling, various therapies, run support groups and give emotional and practical lifestyle advice. Based in Chichester, the charity helps many people from the Arun district. The bonfire society’s donation will help fund counselling sessions and complimentary therapy sessions provided by cancer specialist counsellors and therapists, which greatly benefit the client, helping them cope with cancer.’

Rachel Blair, Community Fundraiser of Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, is delighted the charity has benefited from the street collections.

‘Worthing Churches Homeless Projects helps local people out of homelessness. The charity runs a breakfast club at Littlehampton United Church, serving the needs of vulnerable adults and homeless people aged from 18 to 80 years old in the Littlehampton area. For many it provides the only hot meal of the day. The club also helps people to obtain improved accommodation. A regular meeting place with a regular hot meal and social interaction is beneficial to the customer’s mental and physical health. The club is very fortunate that Littlehampton United Church have been so supportive in offering a home for the service to operate from. We will use our donation from the street collections towards the annual rent of the church premises used by the breakfast club.’

Other donations made by the society benefited various local charities and good causes who assisted with Bonfire Night, and members of the society undertook their traditional delivery of Christmas food parcels to local elderly and housebound residents.

Charities and good causes which benefit the local community are now invited to apply to become beneficiaries of the street collection at this year’s Traditional Bonfire Celebrations on Saturday 29th October. Said bonfire society secretary, Richard Cooper,

‘We need to know from applicants how much funding they are seeking, what specific project it is for, and how it will benefit the local community. We are aware that many organisations are currently finding fund raising for their particular projects very difficult. We help fund local projects, so our spectators on Bonfire Night know that their donations to our collecting buckets will directly benefit the local community.’

Applications must be in writing to Richard at 46, Kent Road, Littlehampton, BN17 6LQ or by email to littlehamptonbonfiresociety@hotmail.co.uk, and must be received by the closing date of Wednesday 1st June.

Street collections at the event are in aid of charities and good causes which benefit the local community, and beneficiaries will include the St John Ambulance, Air Training Corps 1087 (Arun Valley) Squadron, Warrior Scout Explorer Unit Littlehampton and Arundel Scouts, CancerWise and Worthing Churches Homeless Projects.

Organisers are hoping that this year’s street collection will be another record breaker. Commented society secretary, Richard Cooper,

‘We are proud that despite ever increasing costs of staging our event, every penny of our collection continues to go to the charities and good causes we support. We charge no entry fee, but we do ask spectators to show their support by donating as much as they are able to our collection buckets, and hope that this year each spectator will be able to give at least £1. We hold the record of £9,110 for the all-time highest street collection at any Sussex bonfire and carnival celebrations. We believe that a £10,000 street collection should be possible in Littlehampton – please help us to achieve this! Don’t forget, all donations to the collection buckets will directly benefit the local community.

Countless hours of volunteer time are involved in organising the celebrations, building the bonfire, making the torches, preparing the costumes and floats and of course raising the funds to stage the event. We are urging Littlehampton residents and visitors to show their support and appreciation of these celebrations and to donate as generously as they can to the collection buckets.’

Littlehampton Bonfire Society has also issued a plea to spectators attending Bonfire Night not to purchase balloons, glow sticks and other carnival novelties from street traders.

Explained Richard,

‘Any street traders attempting to sell balloons, glow sticks and similar novelty items will be uninvited. They do not contribute to the costs of staging the celebrations and in previous years have caused obstructions. We would very strongly request that spectators put their money in our collection buckets instead to support our chosen beneficiaries. Official refreshment vendors – who do generously contribute to the costs of staging the event – will be found on the bonfire site (East Green car park), The Green, Banjo Road and at William Cole’s fun fair on the promenade.’

Times for the bonfire, firework display and processions are to be found in the Bonfire Night programmes, now on sale in shops in Littlehampton, Wick, Rustington and East Preston and at the Look and Sea Centre, River Road, Littlehampton. See the society’s website www.littlehamptonbonfiresociety.co.uk for programme stockists.

Littlehampton Bonfire Society stages its Traditional Bonfire Night on Saturday 31st October, in celebration of the 410th Anniversary of the overthrow of the attempt by Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators to blow up the King and Parliament.

Events kick off with two Dignity Charity Fair Organs playing in the town centre during the day. Following their fancy dress competitions, the society’s children take part in their own procession accompanied by the T S Implacable Nautical Training Corps Band and the Arundel and Littlehampton District Scout Band. The society’s traditional poppy wreath will later be laid at the war memorial during a short service lead by the Reverend Norman Croft.

The Grand Torchlight Procession will feature nearly fifty entries from all over the southeast. The illuminated floats will include an entry from 2014 winners Littlehampton Churches Together hoping to repeat the success of their outstanding Noah’s Ark creation last year and visitors from across The Solent, with the Ventnor Carnival Association making the trip with their elaborate float. Several first time entrants who answered the society’s appeal earlier in the year to help boost the number of illuminated float entries include the Wick Village Traders’ Association and the Bognor Regis Carnival Association. Leading the popular contingent of steam engines will be Doug Williamson’s 1925 Foden steam tractor, which won the award for best presented steam engine in 2014. Littlehampton Bonfire Society, lead by its North American Indian pioneers and supported by members depicting the Tudor era and in other costumes, will head up the torchlight section of the parade. The host society will be followed by visiting bonfire and carnival societies in their traditional costumes and bearing flaming torches. These will include the members of Phoenix who will be attempting to retain the title of best-dressed visiting society, together with the coveted Butlin Silver Challenge Trophy, which their spectacular costumes won the group in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Seven marching bands will provide the music – ranging from brass and bagpipe to jazz and samba. The Oatlands Park Pipe Band has the honour of leading the torchlight part of the procession while the Portsmouth City Band will once again lead the illuminated floats and walking groups. Helping to liven up the proceedings will be the samba rhythms of Beach Bateria and Celebration Samba and bringing up the rear will be the ever popular Expedient Jazz Band. Miss Bonfire, 13-year-old Bridie Killick will ride on her specially constructed float and making a very welcome return after many years will be members of Sompting Village Morris. The lighting of the mammoth bonfire by the society’s Commander in Chief, John Burchfield, will be followed by the grand aerial firework display. William Cole’s family funfair will be open on the Promenade from 2.00p.m.

‘Celebrate safely’ is the message from the Littlehampton Bonfire Society Safety Advisory Group to spectators attending the town’s Bonfire Night on Saturday 31st October.

Commented bonfire society secretary, Richard Cooper,

‘Local residents and spectators can help to make it a safe and enjoyable evening for everyone by following the simple advice in the safety leaflet which is being distributed with our Bonfire Night programmes. We hope that everyone will follow this advice, to ensure the safety of both themselves and those around them.’

Residents and spectators must not attempt to park along the procession routes, which are subject to road closure orders. Arun District Council and Sussex Police will be enforcing no parking regulations in roads subject to road closures, and any vehicles illegally parked will be ticketed and towed away. In the event of any damage to vehicles, owners may also find that their insurance is invalid if the vehicle is illegally parked. Car parking bays in Sea Road will be closed all day and evening.

The Banjo Road car park will be closed from 6.00p.m. on Friday 30th October. The East Green car park will be closed from 8.00a.m. on Friday 30th October and will remain closed for the whole day on Saturday 31st October.

The do’s and don’ts to take note of if you are planning to come along to the celebrations are as follows:

Timetable – The times of the main events during the evening and details of the procession routes are to be found in the Bonfire Night programme, on sale at local shops, and in the High Street precinct on the morning of the celebrations. See the society’s website www.littlehamptonbonfiresociety.co.uk for programme stockists.

Alcohol – Please do not bring any alcohol with you as the whole of the event takes place within the alcohol exclusion zone. The police may confiscate and dispose of it.

Don’t play with fireworks – Do not set off fireworks in the street. It is both dangerous and illegal, and carries a £5,000 fine. Do not bring sparklers – they can be dangerous in a crowded environment.

Don’t pick up torches – Keep away from discarded torches, they may still be hot. Do not attempt to pick up discarded torches – they have been put down because they are no longer safe to hold. Do not place litter in the water butts which are for extinguishing torches. Keep clear of the rear of the processions to allow the marshals to pick up the discarded torches. Keep windows along the procession routes closed to avoid the risk of fire from flying embers.

Keep behind barriers – Keep out of the bonfire, fireworks and float dispersal safety areas. Keep on the pavements as the processions pass, and behind the crowd barriers which you will find at certain points along the procession route. Do not allow children to sit on the kerb, or push prams or pushchairs into the road while the procession is passing by. If you haven’t got a good view of the procession, move to a less densely crowded part of the route. Do not attempt to walk on or cross the road while the processions are passing by. Wear suitable non-flammable clothing. Do not shine any laser beams directly at participants or members of the crowd – it is extremely dangerous to do so.

Children – Lost children will be taken to St John Ambulance Mobile Base in Banjo Road.

First aid – A St John Ambulance first aid point will be located in Banjo Road on the seafront. St John Ambulance personnel will also be found in the processions and along the procession routes.

In an emergency – In the event of an emergency you are asked to quickly respond to directions given by marshals and / or the emergency services. Be aware of the knee rail fence around the perimeter of The Green, especially if The Green has to be evacuated in an emergency.

Littlehampton Bonfire Society has issued an urgent appeal for suitable premises for the preparation and storage of torches and equipment to enable its members to continue the Sussex bonfire tradition in the town. Explained society secretary, Richard Cooper.

‘We have to completely vacate our current site by Christmas at the latest and if we can’t find a suitable site before then we will sadly not be able to continue to hold celebrations in the town. We currently have use of storage facilities for the materials for making the torches for our celebrations together with road signs, water barrels and other event equipment. The torches are also made at this site by a small group of our members on about six Sundays during the year, with final preparations in the week preceding our event. Without suitable storage facilities where we can also make the torches we will be unable to continue to stage Bonfire Night. Although this will not affect this year’s event we are very anxious to find alternative facilities as soon as possible.

We require secure premises at a location in the Littlehampton area, or alternatively a site where we can place two container units, where the torches can be made on Saturdays or Sundays without causing disturbance to local residents. The total site area we require is approximately 40 feet by 20 feet. Access to the site for a lorry will be required to load up the torches and equipment for the celebrations. We unfortunately would not be able to afford a commercial rent.’

Anyone able to help the society with new torch making and storage facilities is asked to email littlehamptonbonfiresociety@hotmail.co.uk or alternatively telephone Richard Cooper on 01903 725149.

Please note that road closures and no parking orders operate before and during the processions as follows:

* Maltravers Rd, Fitzalan Rd (South from East St junction), Maltravers Drive

o No parking from 12 noon to 11:00pm

o Road Closure from 4:30pm to 11:00pm

* Granville Rd, Selborne Rd (from Granville Rd to St Winefrides Rd junctions), St Winefrides Rd, Church Street, Manor Parade, St Catherine’s Rd, South Terrace (east from junction with St Catherine’s Road), Norfolk Rd (from South Terrace to Sea Rd), Sea Rd (from Norfolk Rd to swimming centre)

o No parking from 4:00pm to 10:30pm

o Road Closure from 7:00pm to 10:30pm

* Beach Rd (from East Street junction to the War Memorial)

o No parking from 12 noon to 10:30pm

o Road Closure from 4:45pm to 5:45pm and from 7:00pm to 10:30pm

* New Road, Surrey Street (to junction with High Street precinct)

o No parking from 12 noon to 5:45pm

o Road Closure from 4:45pm to 5:45pm

* St Flora’s Rd (from junction with Parkside Avenue to Sportsman roundabout), Berry Lane (junction with St Flora’s Rd to junction with Southway)

o Road Closure from 7:00pm to 9:15pm

* Beach Rd (south of junction with Maltravers Rd)

o No parking from 12 noon to 11:00pm

o Road Closure from 3:00pm to 11:00pm

* East Street (from junction with Franciscan Way to junction with High Street)

o Road Closure from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

We are urgently appealing for help to build the mammoth bonfire for our bonfire celebrations on Saturday 31st October.

The bonfire has been on the same site on The Green since the celebrations of the Victorian Littlehampton Bonfire Society in the 19th century. It is one of Littlehampton’s traditions that it has a ‘mammoth bonfire’ each year – nowadays thought to be the biggest in Sussex, with some Sussex bonfire and carnival societies not having a fire at all. If we are to maintain this tradition we urgently need more people to come forward to help.

Help is needed from Monday 26th to Thursday 29th October between 9.00a.m. and 6.00p.m. In particular we need people physically capable of helping to lift wooden pallets. If you are not able to actually help build the fire we also need people to check loads for non-combustible and toxic items – cars as well as lorries and vans need to be checked.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you can help!

We hope you can help us keep the bonfire tradition in Littlehampton alive!