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Bonfire is once again upon us.

On 26 Sep 2010 at 1:48pm Guido fawkes wrote:

Bonfire is once again creeping on to the streets of Lewes.
So how many of you are workers or once night bonfire boyes and gals! Do you walk with you societies just for the 5th or do you help out during the year, attend out meetings, torch making etc etc
It's amazing some lewes societies have over 1000 members and only a handful of helpers to do all the work upto the 5th!
Do you think its OK just to join in just on the 5th without helping?

On 26 Sep 2010 at 5:02pm Me wrote:

No. there are so many varied things that can be done over the course of the year, that doing nothing is frankly disrespectfull to the few that put in a lot of work.

On 26 Sep 2010 at 6:13pm Me Too! wrote:

I agree!

On 26 Sep 2010 at 8:18pm Deelite wrote:

In the main bonfire appeals to coarse oiks and drunken simpletons.

On 26 Sep 2010 at 8:29pm Enoch wrote:

Oh now foolish - if only you knew how small minded and bigoted you were being you would be embarrassed Deelite.

On 26 Sep 2010 at 8:40pm Guy wrote:

Ban it.

On 26 Sep 2010 at 9:24pm Northern Bigot wrote:

Anyone seen a programme yet? Usually Waterloo have theirs out well before the end of September!

On 27 Sep 2010 at 11:08am Keny wrote:

Commercials programme is out, read it the other day and it was a load of cr*p, fo £1.50 I would at least expect something remotely ineresting but obviously they struggle.
Some people may only be able to join in on the 5th due to families, work or other arrangements and may not be able to give up their free time so some people do think its ok for ust one night. They make the socities numbers look good so why bother complaining

On 27 Sep 2010 at 11:13am fed up with fireworks wrote:

it's an event that attracts yobs, and drunks. at least in lewes anyway....

On 27 Sep 2010 at 12:14pm Penguin wrote:

What a load of crap Keny. Not having time is a pathetic excuse. If you have time to go out on the 5th, then you have time to give up an evening or a few hours at the weekend in the months preceding. As for making the societies numbers look good - quite the opposite. The societies would all be glad to have less members if it increased the ratio of workers to non workers.

Problem is, Deelite and Fed up with fireworks, drunken yobs are part of British culture these days. You can't blame that on bonfire. It seems that any event is a reason to behave that way. I am pretty sure however, that there is less antisocial behaviour in Lewes on the 5th than there is at a lot of football matches with an equivalent crowd.

On 27 Sep 2010 at 12:26pm pope wrote:

If you promise not to burn me this year I will pass round the under eights, or is it the after eights.

On 27 Sep 2010 at 1:25pm Ratty wrote:

If the societies are not that fussed about how many march on the 5th, why doesn't each society only allow people to march who've volunteered/fundraised at enough events throughout the year, and earned their right to be in the procession on the 5th?

On 27 Sep 2010 at 1:42pm Penguin wrote:

OK Ratty, thats a great idea, and perhaps you have some suggestions about how a society could police it ? How do you know when you renew or accept a new membership that that person is going to contribute anything before the 5th. You can hardly go around at the beginning of each procession with a register, or tally of torches made during the year, and check if everyone is entitled to march.

On 27 Sep 2010 at 5:43pm MrLoverLoverBombastic wrote:

Misses offered love making but I decided for torch making instead.

On 27 Sep 2010 at 5:58pm TottallyFantostig wrote:

I only offered because I knew you had to go torch making lol

On 27 Sep 2010 at 9:37pm Chillie123 wrote:

I amnot a Lewesian, I have lived in Lewes for only 2 years and I am in the Cliffe area. I am happy to help or offer my services for free through out the year, when I asked if I could help I was told that I had to be nominated and seconded. So how can that happen if I am not already a Lewesian and I do not know any people because I am an outsider?

On 27 Sep 2010 at 10:06pm paddyc wrote:

Are the rangers fans coming down again ? i have seen them every year ! I wonder why they come all this way? hhmm? maybe if you stop burning the Pope the event we cease to be sectarian and the catholice might .... i say might join in. Not me.

On 27 Sep 2010 at 10:55pm Down and Out wrote:

To be fair Penguin, the societies can be pretty insular even once you're in. We've not been in for that long and we know a few people now, but it's still pretty hard to find out who to talk to about torch-making or tabs or whatever.
I'm sure more people could help, but I'd still rather see Bonfire for the massive spectacle it is, whether some of the people are part-timers or not.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 7:36am Guidofawkes wrote:

DaO,I totally agree. Have been in Cliffe for many many many years but if your face don't fit in with the right croud you don't get it! To get involved on tab building or effigy making, it makes no difference how long you've been in or what your capable of doing. You may be the best artist alive but if you can't get in with in croud your stuffed. Torchmaking it'll be!!

On 28 Sep 2010 at 8:10am Crossed axes wrote:

@Chillie123, Do you drink in the gardeners, lots of cliff members get in there, start chatting

On 28 Sep 2010 at 9:25am 'ere be monsters wrote:

Chillie 123, if you don't know many people after 2 years it's perhaps your socialising skills you should be questioning. Make yourself known.
Paddyc you ask if the Rangers fans are coming down as if you assume they are invited. As you well know it is Pope Paul V that is burned in effigy each year, it is only your bigotry that prevents you from entering into the spirit of Bonfire.
Down and Out, if you really wanted to help with torch making contacting the committee is very simple with the details in the Clarion you receive. You can get a weekly email detailing all goings on. See you down the yard in Ham Lane Thursday evening at 7.
Guido See you there as well, it really isn't that difficult to become involved.
The Cliffe are not as insular and difficult to become involved in as you think.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 9:28am 'ere be monsters wrote:

If you can't make Thursday, try Sunday at 10am or Monday at 7.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 9:28am Atheist Advocate wrote:

What a shame the Pope wasn't visiting the UK during the 1st week of November...

On 28 Sep 2010 at 10:05am Down and Out wrote:

Never said I was Cliffe, EBM - that's for the Petal Felix-Smiths of this world, not me!
Anyway I am involved and I have got to know people; I'm just saying that, as a general rule, it takes quite a bit of effort to find out who's who and what's what in the societies - except for Southover DFL, obviously - they'll have anyone!

On 28 Sep 2010 at 10:19am Penguin wrote:

@Chillie123, you need to be proposed and seconded to become a member of the society. It is not hard to meet bonfire society members in Lewes, as there are so many of them. I am sure as Crossed Axes suggests, that if you frequent the Gardeners, or the John Harvey, it won't be long before you meet Cliffe members. Once you are a member you can offer your services. Obviously there are jobs that require as much help as possible, torch making, jumble collecting/selling, programme selling, bar work etc, etc.. and I am sure that any volunteers for these jobs would be gratefully accepted.

However, there are certain jobs that cannot accomodate just any one who fancies having a go and are therefore harder to get in to, eg. tableau, effigies and set pieces. These jobs are done by small teams selected by the relevant Captains who are themselves elected at the societies AGM. With a team of, say, 10 people in a society of 1000 members, it stands to reason that only 1% of the membership will be able to be involved, and of course it is then difficult to appear not to be a 'closed shop'. The secrecy surrounding the subject of the tableau might also give this impression, but most members actually prefer this to be a secret until the night.

Anyone can stand for these Captains positions however, but they do involve a year long commitment, and a lot more work and time right through the year rather than just turning up a few times in the weeks leading up to the fifth. You will also need to obtain the relevant pyrotechnic qualification.

If you want to find out about torch making, or any other event that is going on where your help would be appreciated, then have look in your Clarion (or your chosen societies newsletter). There is usually plenty of information about what is going on in there, along with telephone numbers that you can call to offer your help. By getting involved in these activities, you stand a much better chance to become known within the society, and therefore in a better position to make it know that you may like to be involved in one of the firework teams.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 11:33am Newmania wrote:

I wanted to help , but then I wanted to play music locally and be poltically active . Its hard with three young children to fit much in so I guess I am one of those people who just turn up and hopes everyone else will sort it out.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 11:35am Penguin wrote:

Whilst not wishing to drag up the whole racist thing again D & O, as far as I am aware, Petal Smith is not, nor has ever been, a member of the Cliffe Bonfire Society. She would however be most welcome.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 12:07pm Down and Out wrote:

It was a rumour doing the rounds and mentioned tongue-in-cheek! No idea whether the Smiths are or aren't, really.

On 28 Sep 2010 at 1:09pm stan wrote:

"I hate to spread rumours but I don't know what else to do with them! Tell me more? I could but I've already told you more than I heard".

On 28 Sep 2010 at 1:11pm Penguin wrote:

OK D&O, now I still need to work out who you are! Were you at SMW training on saturday morning ?

On 28 Sep 2010 at 1:32pm Newmania wrote:

They lived on the Neville and I have heard plenty from their old friends via the mums grapevine. Plenty.....

On 28 Sep 2010 at 1:50pm hebegebee wrote:

I've seen lots of people join the society I'm involved in, rapidly rising up the "ranks" so to speak, and disappear off the end never to be seen again. The one's who work hard and enjoy it, rising up through experience and reliability are the ones who are accepted to the more sensitive area's of bonfire - i.e. firework crews. Its too damaging to let people who you don't really know get involved with fireworks as that's an area if not done properly by reliable sensible people would damage bonfire. People need to understand bonfires workings before moving up.... Its not government, but as political. For it to continue as it is, without being watered down to a street carnival, it has to be.