On 5 Oct 2012 at 11:05pm Deelite wrote:
Recently received this missive from Barcombe Bonfire Society:
'Just to clarify that BBS will not be walking as a society at Lewes this year, the reason for this is to do with Insurance issues.'
I'd always assumed that bonfire societies had no truck with insurance. If they do, then I'm not surprised Barcombe Bonfire Society can't afford it. The costs can't be minimal.
On 5 Oct 2012 at 11:37pm Suspicious wrote:
I thought it had more to do with the rumours of Southover trying to blame them for some crowd-related problem last year (same colours and all that)...
On 6 Oct 2012 at 1:59am IMEYOU wrote:
"Suspicious - same colours and all that" Please Elaborate !
On 6 Oct 2012 at 3:02am 17Xs wrote:
Rubbish! Nothing to do with colours!
On 6 Oct 2012 at 8:48am Pete wrote:
Come on then, spill the beans, what's all this about.....and what are you doing up at 3 a.m. 17XS !!
On 6 Oct 2012 at 8:55am Csbs wrote:
Lets not air all our private matters in this public arena , if you are a BBS member talk direct to your own committee , and in turn talk to a lewes chair or committee member or bonco , maybe you could be accommodated
On 6 Oct 2012 at 8:57am I repeat wrote:
The authorities are closing in. Mark my words!
On 6 Oct 2012 at 9:57am Ed Can Do wrote:
Insurance is generally the second highest cost to a bonfire society, after fireworks.
On 6 Oct 2012 at 10:08am In the know wrote:
Sussex Bonfire Council agreed that all Societies march under their own Insurance at all outfires. Simple. Nothing suspicious about that one.
On 6 Oct 2012 at 10:32am Pru wrote:
So whose Public Liability Insurance covers the United Grand?
On 6 Oct 2012 at 11:38am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I don't see how insurance affects joining processions. I don't see how you can be insured for what goes on in the street, as letting off fireworks on the highway is illegal.
Societies have to carry public liability insurance for the firesites and displays, of course.
On 6 Oct 2012 at 12:34pm Four Candles wrote:
Wow! The intrigue! Spill the beans someone please.
On 6 Oct 2012 at 1:17pm Mr Forks wrote:
Don't you just love armchair 'experts'?!
On 6 Oct 2012 at 2:43pm HelpfulHanna wrote:
Never mind - this time next month it will ALL be over !!
On 6 Oct 2012 at 3:19pm Bruciare il Papa wrote:
Bad news for you Hanna - Bonfire will continue for several weeks after the 5th
On 6 Oct 2012 at 4:41pm The Tooth Fairy wrote:
ACT is correct One cannot insure ones self when breaking the law. So if you find yourself suffering an injury as a result of a street firework you'll have to pursue a private prosecution against the individual , assuming you can identify him/her.
Good luck with that ;-)
On 6 Oct 2012 at 7:36pm DFS not dfl wrote:
Mines really comfy thanks Mr Forks and got 4 years free credit , lets talk about speeding as none of us do that , are we insured then ?
On 6 Oct 2012 at 9:13pm the old mayor wrote:
'Yawn'
On 6 Oct 2012 at 10:20pm Deelite wrote:
This thread is full of irrelevances.
So, what does the Barcombe Bonfire Society missive mean? Can it even be accepted at face value?
On 6 Oct 2012 at 11:38pm IMEYOU wrote:
"Confused"
On 7 Oct 2012 at 3:19pm Pru wrote:
Never mind whether the Public Liability Insurance turns out not to cover a claim by a member of the public for a firework injury, my question remains unanswered. Who is responsible for taking out the Public Liability Insurance that covers the United Grand procession? There might be other (legal, but unfortunate) occurrences during that event that give rise to a claim.
Who is responsible for taking out the insurance? And have they actually done so?
On 7 Oct 2012 at 6:44pm The Greek wrote:
Unfortunately it seems that no society will have us this year on the grounds of insurance which is an absolute travesty.
I hope that within the coming weeks, sense will be seen and a Lewes society will take one of the most tradtional and loved village societies under their wing!
Personally I am absolutely gutted that at this present moment in time that we won't be taking part in the best night of the year. Many other BBS members share my dismay 
On 7 Oct 2012 at 6:56pm Dave wrote:
If you're that worried Pru Shouldn't you take your own insurance out?
On 7 Oct 2012 at 8:36pm Too late wrote:
You have had months to sort t out BBS
On 7 Oct 2012 at 8:40pm Trever wrote:
On 7 Oct 2012 at 8:41pm Trevor wrote:
Have you tried confused.com or money supermarket ? They do insurance quotes?
On 8 Oct 2012 at 7:37am Fred wrote:
The Lewes to Newhaven raft race didn't take place year because the cost of insurance was too expensive. Compared with bonfire I would think the risks were minimal - how much therefore is bonfire insurance?
On 8 Oct 2012 at 9:52am someone else wrote:
"ACT is correct One cannot insure ones self when breaking the law"
Not completely convinced about that. If you get hit by a speeding and/or drunk driver, their insurance will still pay out.
On 8 Oct 2012 at 3:49pm Dan wrote:
They dont need insurance - most of the fat bonfiremembers need to go on a diet - the drunken idiotic bloaters........
On 8 Oct 2012 at 4:22pm In the know wrote:
Fred has answered your question - if you don't have Insurance then your event cannot happen!
On 8 Oct 2012 at 5:22pm Ed Can Do wrote:
The insurance for a small, village bonfire which deosn't invite visiting societies and has a crowd of a couple of thousand, tops, is a four-figure sum. I dread to think how much the Lewes societies pay but it won't be cheap.
On 8 Oct 2012 at 7:48pm Billy wrote:
Confused.com
On 8 Oct 2012 at 7:48pm Billy wrote:
Confused.com
On 8 Oct 2012 at 7:49pm Billy wrote:
Confused.com
On 8 Oct 2012 at 8:11pm In The Know wrote:
When I was involved at committee level with one of the smaller societies out liability insurance covered us for the fifth (including the grand, pru!!), out meetings, and all our other fund raising events and activities. The premium then was some two and a half grand!! I gather it was calculated on a membership pro rata basis. It did hear from a fellow committee member of one if the lager societies that their premium was around eight and a half grand!! This is one cost that joe public has no idea of.
On 8 Oct 2012 at 8:35pm Billy wrote:
On a serious note , it's a real shame that insurance is the major issue in the bonfire and other events. How can charity's make any money , we seam to be fighting a losing battle .and insurance will finish every thing
On 8 Oct 2012 at 10:16pm Pencil wrote:
The fact is that this year we can only afford the insurance for our own night which amounts to a 4 figure sum, and as said in previous posts all societies are insisting that all visiting societies coming to their event are covered by their own insurance, unfortunately its the blame culture that is the problem. So its NOT that no one wants us, as we have been invited by a Lewes Society but as we won't be covered then we have declined, we have no choice really.
I'm sure lots of Barcombe members are a bit Pi##ed off. but as a director of BBS I don't fancy taking the chance and someone trying to make a claim.
My job is a H&S officer for a local council so I know all about claims and stuff and really don't want to be going down that road !!!!!!!!!!!!!