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Bonfire Society Colours

On 24 Sep 2016 at 2:45am Sunshine wrote:

Does anyone know why specific colours were chosen for each society?

On 24 Sep 2016 at 6:14am mick symes wrote:

In 1853 the Lewes Bonfire Society (todays Borough) decided for the 1st time to dress in a uniform manner, they chose Blue & White striped Tops with white sailors type trousers, red sashes were worn by the elected officers for the night, The Commander-in-Chief Thomas Monk wore a red hat, the rest of the society wore a white one, faces were blacked up. These colours were recorded for posterity in the Henwood painting (which hangs in Anne of Cleeves in Southover) and was fully reported by the Sussex Advertiser & Express. also in 1853 Tableaux were paraded and destroyed at the end of the night around the bonfire set outside the County Hall/ White Hart . Symbolically the Borough will hold Bonfire prayers and finish their evening here as they have always done, the bonfire however has not been there since 1906, today torch carts symbolise the fire. The reason for Blue & White is not recorded, but from 1853 with the formation of Cliffe(Black & White), Lewes bonfire boys (girls were not in the ranks then) would no longer all dress similarly to avoid identification by the authorities but would proudly show their allegiance, and thus ensuring the mayhem of previous years would be replaced with a fully organised evening that to this day will be enjoyed by the majority, and has made Lewes the capital of November 5th celebration & pagentry. As each society has been subsequently formed they have had sole choice in their colours, all Sussex societies have different colours or in the case of Lindfeild (1894) they are a dark blue & white, The Henwood picture forms the full cover of this years Borough programme,

On 24 Sep 2016 at 7:31pm Sunshine wrote:

Thanks for the reply Mick - Histotical/Naval influence is acceptable for BBS's choice of colours.
But
Cliffe, why did you choose black and white (rooks and snow perhaps)?
Commercial, why yellow and black (custard and rooks)?
Waterloo, why red and white (Japanese flag)?
Nevill, why green and white (green behind the ears and innocent juveniles)?
Southover, why red and black (blood and rooks)?
South Street, why brown and white (mud and chalk)?

On 25 Sep 2016 at 12:31am Local wrote:

You need to read the CSBS Programme...

On 25 Sep 2016 at 12:34pm Always Rivalled, Seldom Equalled wrote:

Local, you're just rude.

On 25 Sep 2016 at 2:00pm Always Rude Seldom wrote:

Equitable - Burn the Pope.

On 26 Sep 2016 at 3:50am Sunshine wrote:

So, the reason for the choice of colours remains a mystery (except for BBS - thanks again Mike).

On 26 Sep 2016 at 10:21pm Justin wrote:

Does south over have a fireside this year

On 28 Sep 2016 at 12:33am The Greek wrote:

I believe Southover chose their colours (red and black) because it is similar to the football club..
Why Barcombe and Newick have had those colours much longer is unknown!