By Lyn Funnell
Sitting on a bench in East Hoathly, I watched a family of Zombies pass me, followed by a cowgirl and an Aztec.
No I wasn’t hallucinating! I was at the East Hoathly and Halland 100th Bonfire Night.
There were plenty of stalls there, selling food and drinks.
But £7 for a portion of chips? Come on now!
The Roast Chestnut Man said he travels all over Sussex. He has to buy his chestnuts from France.
Unlike all the other Bonfire Societies, East Hoathly and Halland don’t celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, they celebrate Armistice Night of 1928.
The Society’s emblem is Lest we Forget, and 31 burning poppy banners are carried to commemorate the 31 members of the Parish who died in two world wars.
Some celebrations were missed because of war and Covid.
A few of the banners carried in the Procession are over 70 years old, and descendants from then are still taking part in the Procession. Each year the Society’s slogan, Lest we Forget, and 31 blazing poppy banners are carried to commemorate those from the parish who were killed in the two world wars.
Every year Keith Pettit designs an amazing sculpture, which is sadly burned to cheers. This year it was a statue of the Goddess Nike.
I spoke to Matt and Jordan, who are part of the Fireworks Team. They told me that at least one in the group has to pass an exam, but in their group about 6 of them were qualified.
What did they have to do, I asked; did they have to light a fuse with a match?!
Matt laughed and said it’s totally different now. They were lit electronically. He said he could stand there and set them off by pressing a number on his radio equipment.
The procession began. It was as impressive as usual, with over a dozen Bonfire Societies taking
part, who had travelled there from all over Sussex. And four bands played, adding an exciting atmosphere.
A full moon sat low on the horizon, adding more light to the evening.
East Hoathly and Halland carried a huge blazing banner saying 100 years. Boy was it hot!
I have one complaint; there are now too many Smugglers wearing their stripy jumpers.
When I was a kid in Lewes the costumes were magnificent, and each Bonfire Society had a theme. Now people don’t make the effort to make them. Or perhaps it’s a dying art. And one thing that helped to spoil it was the horrible person several years ago who complained about the amazing Zulus blacking up, wearing their huge stunning costumes every year. Even the real Zulus didn’t mind!
Long may the traditions continue. They’re great fun, and they also raise a lot of money for Charities.
