Author: JeffreyDriver

Littlehampton Bonfire Society is appealing for more local entries to take part in the famous Bonfire Night parade, which this year takes place on Saturday 31st October.

Explained society secretary, Richard Cooper,

‘The standard of decoration and illumination of entries at our 2014 celebrations was very good and we are grateful to all those groups who put in so much time and effort to take part in the processions. It was however a disappointment that the number of entries was down, in particular in view of the level of support our members give to other bonfire and carnival events throughout the year. We have increased the prize money on offer this year, which we hope will help to boost the number of entries. Many carnivals and processions across the country have become smaller or disappeared completely in recent years and we would like to see more support from local businesses and organisations to help ensure this does not happen to Littlehampton Bonfire Night.’

As an incentive to would be entrants, increased cash prizes for the best illuminated float and walking group of £150 each are on offer, with runners up prizes of £100 and £50 in each of these classes. In addition the top float will receive the coveted Mixed Bunch Trophy – currently held by Littlehampton Churches Together with their outstanding Noah’s Ark creation. Judges pay particular attention to the standard of illumination as well as the standard of decoration of the floats. The top walking group receives the K C Memorial Cup, with last year’s winners of this category being Ashington Festival’s Lego People. The New West Preston Manor Nursery School Cup is awarded to the best youth float or walking group in the procession and for the first time this year this will be accompanied by a cash prize of £100. The honours in this category last year were claimed by The Wonder Girls from Bognor Regis in their Halloween disguises. There is no set theme, so entries can be as varied and imaginative as possible.

Commented Richard,

‘One way in which local businesses and organisations can become involved in Bonfire Night is by entering an illuminated float, which will not only boost our procession, but as we regularly attract excellent crowds, will provide first class publicity for them. While many carnivals and processions across the country are sadly in decline, we hope that the local community will help us to reverse this trend and once again put on a bonfire procession of the highest possible standard in Littlehampton.’

Entry forms for illuminated float and walking group entries can be obtained from Tyndall Jones at David O Jones Sports, 9 High Street, Littlehampton or can be downloaded from the Bonfire Society’s website www.littlehamptonbonfiresociety.co.uk.

Local charities and good causes have benefited by £8,216 from the street collections at Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s 2014 traditional bonfire celebrations.

The main beneficiary, St Barnabas House, received £4,000 to purchase an ultra low bed in memory of the society’s former Chairman, Miss Dorothy Clevitt MBE. Other beneficiaries included Littlehampton Swimming Club and Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport who each received £500.

At a presentation at St Barnabas House on Saturday a delighted Neil Francis, Community Fundraising Officer of the hospice.

‘£4,000 is truly amazing – thank you to Littlehampton Bonfire Society from us all here at the hospice. Ultra low beds are of great benefit to patients who are especially vulnerable to rolling out of bed. The beds also help the patients to be more independent, as they can be lowered so that the patients’ feet are more stable on the ground when they get up. Our ward sister is delighted to have an additional ultra low bed to improve our all round care to patients.’

Littlehampton Swimming Club will use their windfall to fund additional higher level coaching courses and a number of resistance training aids. Denise Hunter, Chairperson of the club.

‘Our swimmers continue to improve and are moving upwards through county, regional and even national rankings. This is thanks in part to the generosity of grants and financial assistance obtained by the club, thus enabling them to improve training methods and coaching expertise. We are most grateful that the members of Littlehampton Bonfire Society chose us to be one of their beneficiaries – we are deeply touched that they decided we would benefit from the proceeds of the street collections.’

Said Peter Austin, Project Manager of Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport,

‘In 2013/14 Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport transported 45,608 disabled and elderly service users. Many people within the community rely on this transport and there is evidence that the service makes a valuable contribution to their wellbeing, health and place in the community. Without the continued support from groups such as Littlehampton Bonfire Society we could not carry on providing affordable transport for our local community.’

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.

Local charities and good causes are now invited to apply to become beneficiaries of the street collection at this year’s Traditional Bonfire Celebrations on Saturday 31st 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 Monday 1st June.

Thank you and all involved in the Littlehampton Bonfire Society for arranging such a spectacular procession and firework display on Saturday.  It was a fantastic evening – a really well organised and fun night and we and our volunteers very much enjoyed being part of it. I’ve also never seen such a large bonfire and the fireworks were amazing.  Well done to you and your team for all your hard work and thank you again for supporting St Barnabas House as one of the beneficiaries. – Mary Bye, Community Fundraising Officer, St Barnabas House

On behalf of Edenbridge Bonfire Society, we would like to say a massive thank you for a wonderful night, last night. All of your Society volunteers’ hard work over the past year really showed  how organised and well planned your celebrations are. Fabulous. – Carly Wackett, Social Captain, Edenbridge Bonfire Society

Thank you for putting on such a brilliant event, we loved taking part! – Felicity Jay, Littlehampton Churches Together

What a great event it was last night! The procession and the fireworks were spectacular! We had a thoroughly great time. – Deborah Dean, Secretary, Beach Bateria

You should be very proud of another fantastic night, with probably the best fireworks I have seen in my time here. – Roger Green, The Littlehampton Gazette

Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.  All of our members thoroughly enjoyed themselves and your firework display was brilliant.  Phoenix members always have a very happy, safe and enjoyable time at Littlehampton. – Angela Kennard, Secretary, Phoenix

It was a fantastic evening. – Chris Allen, Edwin James Festival Choir

Fantastic bonfire! Amazing fireworks! Enormous delighted crowd! Procession and costumes etc superb! – John Parsons, Paramount PA Systems

Well done and huge thanks to absolutely everyone who helps in any way with the organisation of this event. We have had a great evening of entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed it. – Debbie Stabler, spectator

Absolutely amazing firework display. Thank you to all the people who help put it on each year. Happy childhood memories for me and now my children. Thank you. – Sue Newman, spectator

Definitely the top event in Littlehampton for years and years. No one else does it as good as Sussex. – Karen Jaggs, spectator

Congratulations to all involved in Bonfire Night. It was absolutely brilliant – the best yet! The fireworks were amazing

The Reddys from Windsor, spectators

Littlehampton Bonfire Society stages its Traditional Bonfire Night on Saturday 25th October, with an evening which promises to be a spectacular mixture of fire, colour, music and steam.

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 visitors from across The Solent, with the Ryde and Cowes carnival associations making the trip with their elaborate floats. Leading the popular contingent of steam engines will be Mick Sayers with his 1921 Aveling and Porter steam roller ‘Naiad’, whose efforts earned him the award for best presented steam engine in both 2011 and 2012. 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 both 2011 and 2012. Six marching bands will provide the music – ranging from brass and bagpipe to jazz and samba. The Oatlands Park Pipe Band have the honour of leading the torchlight part of the procession on their first visit to the celebrations. 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, 14-year-old Jessica Baker, will ride on a brand new float and also featuring in the torchlight part of the procession will be Sir Marmaduke Rawdon’s Regiment of Foote. 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.

Street collections at the event are in aid of local charities and good causes, and beneficiaries will include St Barnabas House, Littlehampton Swimming Club, Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport and East Preston Area Community Responders.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 you to show your support by donating as much as you 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, your donation will directly benefit the local community.

Our society has had to raise over £25,000 to stage this year’s event for the town and the benefit of our beneficiaries. Countless hours of volunteer time are involved in organising the celebrations, building the bonfire, making the torches and preparing costumes and floats. 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.

‘Any street traders attempting to sell balloons, glow sticks and similar novelty items will be uninvited. They do not contribute at all 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.

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.

‘Celebrate safely’ is the message from the Littlehampton Bonfire Society Safety Advisory Group to spectators attending the town’s Bonfire Night on Saturday 25th 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.

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
• No parking from 12 noon
• Road Closure from 4:30pm to 11:00pm
• Granville Rd, Selborne Rd (from Granville Rd to St Winefrides Rd junctions), St Winefrides Rd, Church St, Manor Parade, Beach Rd, 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)
• No parking from 4:00pm
• Road Closure from 7:00pm to 10:30pm
• New Rd, Surrey St (to junction with High St precinct), Beach Rd (from East St junction to the War Memorial)
• No parking from 12 noon
• 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 Road to junction with Southway)
• Road Closure from 7:00pm to 9:15pm
• Beach Rd (south of junction with Maltravers Rd)
• No parking from 12 noon
• Road Closure from 3:00pm to 11:00pm
• East St (from junction with Franciscan Way to junction with High St)
• Road Closure from 6:30pm to 9:30pm
• The Banjo Road car park will be closed from 6.00p.m. on Friday 24th October. The East Green car park will be closed from 8.00a.m. on Friday 24th October and will remain closed for the whole day on Saturday 25th October.

Local charities are hoping that spectators at Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s Traditional Celebrations on Saturday 25th 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 £9,110 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 St Barnabas House, Littlehampton Swimming Club, Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport and East Preston Area Community Responders.

Each of these organisations was to benefit from the street collections at the society’s 2013 celebrations, but following the cancellation of the event due to severe weather conditions it was agreed they would be carried forward to become beneficiaries this year.

Explained Neil Francis, Community Fundraising Officer of St Barnabas House,

‘It costs over £5 million each year to provide the hospice’s services and patients are never charged for their care. Only a small part of these costs is funded by the government. For the remainder, we rely on the generosity, help and support of the local community.’

Suzanne Nicholls on behalf of Littlehampton Swimming Club commented,

‘Littlehampton Swimming Club’s swimmers continue to improve and are moving upwards through county, regional and even national rankings. This is thanks in part to the generosity of grants and financial assistance obtained by the club, thus enabling them to improve training methods and coaching expertise. We are currently seeking funding for additional higher level coaching courses and a number of resistance training aids.’

Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport will use their donation to help to continue to run a much needed local transport service for the disabled and elderly. Said the charity’s manager, Peter Austin,

‘In 2013/14 Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport transported 45,608 disabled and elderly service users. Many people within the community rely on this transport and there is evidence that the service makes a valuable contribution to their wellbeing, health and place in the community. This year has seen the charity’s costs increase, the provision of local transport services reduced and the public funding pot shrink.’

Life saving equipment for use in the Littlehampton area is on the shopping list for the East Preston Area Community Responders. Jordan Burne-Cronshaw of the group explained,

‘Currently there are three East Preston Area Community Responders who respond to 999 Category A emergency calls on behalf of an ambulance. Responders are trained to deal with varying emergencies from cardiac arrest to severe bleeding and breathing difficulties. We are trying to raise £1,500 for a defibrillator, a specialist machine that jump starts the heart when in cardiac arrest, for a new responder for the Littlehampton area.’

In order to achieve a record collection the society is urging more teams of collectors to enter the ‘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.

Littlehampton Bonfire Society has issued a reminder that on no account should any rubbish be deposited on the bonfire site, at the East Green car park, before Monday 20th October. The public are also urged to act responsibly regarding the materials they bring to the fire. Commented society secretary Richard Cooper,

‘We have permission to commence building the fire on Monday 20th October. Anyone dumping rubbish on the site prior to this will be acting illegally, and will face prosecution. Only non – toxic, combustible items such as wood and garden waste may be deposited. On no account may polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, aerosols, batteries, bottles, tins of paint, tyres or containers of any liquids be brought to the site. We must also stress that we cannot accept any beds, settees, armchairs or carpets at all. We hope the public will take note of what they can and can’t bring, as we will turn away any prohibited items, and they will have had a wasted trip.

We are unable to provide any transport – the public must find their own means of getting their rubbish to the bonfire. The bonfire is built by volunteers for the benefit of the town and the local charities that benefit from Bonfire Night. A small minority of people unfortunately abuse this facility each year by trying to dump prohibited and non – combustible items, and we are urging them to act responsibly.’

Material may be brought to the fire between the hours of 9.00a.m. and 5.00p.m. only, each day from Monday 20th October to Thursday 23rd October, although the site may be closed earlier in the week, depending on the size of the fire.

The society is also appealing for more people to come forward to help build the fire. Explained Richard,

‘We would like to hear from any groups or individuals who would be willing to spare some time in the week preceding the event to help build the bonfire. 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 need people to come forward to help to build it.’

Anyone willing to assist is asked to email the society on littlehamptonbonfiresociety@hotmail.co.uk , or contact Tyndall Jones at David O. Jones Sports or Richard Cooper on 01903 725149 as soon as possible.

The bonfire will form the centrepiece of the society’s Bonfire Night spectacular on Saturday 25th October. 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.

The Sussex Bonfire Season really gets going in September with celebrations at our friends Uckfield, Crowborough, Mayfield and Burgess Hill this Month. We wish them all the best.

Please support the society by by visiting the Stalls at both the Town show on the 13th and the Market on the 19th.

Also Arundel Guides are joint bag packing with us at Morrisons on the 27th and we thank them for their support.

Programmes for Littlehampton Bonfire Night 2014 are now on sale.

Also entries for the Childrens Fancy Dress Competiton are now being accepted.

Please see the ‘Bonfire Night 2014’ link on the Home Page.

Volunteers are urgently required for Bonfire week. Types of jobs include

Bonfire building. We urgently need more volunteers to help build the bonfire. In particular we need people physically capable of lifting wooden pallets.

Marshals Saturday 25th October in the evening.

Grab Lorry We would ideally like the use of a grab lorry and driver on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st October at the bonfire site to help build the fire. If anyone knows of anyone with a suitable lorry who may be willingly to do this free of charge please.

Please contact us if you are able to help in any way by either Emailing us or via the ‘Contact us’ form.