On 6 Nov 2016 at 6:05am Bob from London now wrote:
I lived in Lewes until 2003 but still come for Bonfire every year. Have to say last night lacked the intensity of recent years. Crowds were good but there was something missing. Or am I just getting numbed by it all?
On 6 Nov 2016 at 8:27am Old Malling wrote:
It seemed pretty much the same as always to me but unfortunately with bigger crowds this year than in recent years which were generally just a pain to deal with. I hoped that it would be a bit quieter due to the trains - I can't imagine how crowded it would have been if the trains were running! Excellent work by everyone involved though.
On 6 Nov 2016 at 9:51am Bonfire Boy wrote:
Southover was missing - left at the prison for an hour whilst the favoured boring Bonfire Societies walked round in circles
On 6 Nov 2016 at 9:51am Cynic wrote:
Most boring bonfire night ever.
On 6 Nov 2016 at 10:34am Nice wrote:
It was a nice, safe evening. It's great that nobody argues about politics and religion and has a jolly time dressing up. We never found Wally though.
On 6 Nov 2016 at 4:22pm kev wrote:
both myself and my daughter felt it to be a little more somber this year, there didn't seem to be as many musical bands, we especially missed the steel drums/dancers etc. the ropes we thought were a good addition and prevented all the "pushing and shoving" to get to the front. we still thought it was a great night though and thanks to all involved.
On 6 Nov 2016 at 10:55pm dizzydi wrote:
Totally agree there was something missing last night. I particularly missed the glockenspiels, always a memory from childhood. The main procession lacked continuity and the crowds were very lack lustre. Unfortunately I stood next to first timers who did not understand the reasons for costumes and crosses!
On 7 Nov 2016 at 4:21am Marco wrote:
Why was that so unfortunate?
On 7 Nov 2016 at 7:38am Eve wrote:
This was my third experience of Bonfire and I had high expectations as it was a Saturday with perfect weather but agree there was something missing this year. There were some very long gaps with nothing happening at all and I thought the crowd, although bigger, was much quieter than the previous two years. All rather disappointing.
On 7 Nov 2016 at 7:55am Happy wrote:
It's not really supposed to be continuous , we are all independent
On 7 Nov 2016 at 10:41am Smuggler wrote:
Yes, the "United Grand" Procession as such is no more - instead the individual Societies each hold their own individual "Grand" Processions that are coordinated to pass down the High Street one after the other, but not (Quite) as one long continual procession. Blame the rise of the litigious society for the loss of the United Grand procession - BONCO do not wish to be seen as "responsible" for organising a main procession. Instead, each Society has to take responsibility (and hold covering insurance etc) for their own processions.
I wish Southover wished/asked to send their Grand Procession down the High Street soon after the others, but their wish to process right down to Library Corner (rather than be sent down St Andrews Lane as in previous years) risked processions running into one another as Borough tend to walk round in circles and return back up the High St, and so BONCO ruled that Southover had to hold in Western Road until Borough had completed their refreshment break at former YMCA, and then processed up beyond the Canon O Donnel fork, thus clearing the way for Southover to process down the High St.
Hopefully next year a litle more imagination by BONCO, and perhaps an ealrier request by Southover, may see a change in the timings/running order of the various "Grand Processions" through the High Street, thus allowing more of the crowd to witness the show (and noise) put on by Southover - this year's ruling by BONCO meant many spectators missed it.
On 7 Nov 2016 at 12:05pm hmmm wrote:
Yes there did seem to be something missing compared to previous years. What is the motivation of each person marching? Is it the genuine remembrance of the protestant martyrs and war veterans? Are they championing the fact that Parliament was saved from being blown up by Guy Fawkes and his mates and that so much of the history of democracy in this country stems from events and thinkers in Lewes? Does each person feel connected to the power of tradition and bringing the passion of historical events into the present day? How much strength of feeling exists so many years after these historical events? Obviously certain practices commemorated at bonfire are not part of the way life is now. Time and attitudes move on but history should be remembered. Are people marching because that's what they did last year as part of the Lewes community and intend to do it next year too? As time continues into the future, what drives the hearts of the bonfire marchers?
On 7 Nov 2016 at 1:11pm The writing on the wall wrote:
Bonfire is dying. The authorities are getting their way.
On 7 Nov 2016 at 8:40pm Budgie smuggler wrote:
It was not Broncos ruling it's what you committee wanted to try
On 9 Nov 2016 at 12:55am Bonfire boy proper wrote:
Southover stop blaming everyone else for your own bad judgement in feeling it necessary to visit Cliffe bridge more than once, the Borough and Bonco representatives are in now way to blame for your wait in western road, your Society, it seems, believes that it can process the streets as you please on the 5th, you are clearly unaware of other societies long held and traditional routes and seem to think that you can just ask them to change their evening to suit you, this unfortunately as you found out, is not how Bonfire in Lewes works, the logistics of societies processions are complex and have been fine tuned over the years to allow all societies to fulfil their individual traditions, This fine tuning is done during BONCO meetings, the ones that you declined to attend in the past, Lewes Borough leave their headquarters at the exact time you were demanding to come down the high street, what on Earth makes you think this is acceptable, as for other comments on a previous thread (that have obviously come from your lack of communication with your members) stating that the Borough held you up, Bonco made a ruling and my personal favourite that the C in C of Borough "threw her weight around" they are all totally incorrect statements, no doubt from your misinformed members. Boroughs C in C was no doubt protecting her societies right to maintain there age old traditions, routes and timings, why would she not want to do that, I take my hat off to her and her Society, for wanting to protect their night from you, who were adamant that you wanted a second visit to The high street and beyond, you were told the high street would be taken by other societies until very late in the evening, YOU chose to wait for that second high street visit, you cannot ask other societies to bow down to your specific wants, none of the Lewes societies would even think about processing through Southover, so please have the same respect for them.