Barcombe Bonfire Society

Barcombe Bonfire Society Ltd (BBS) is very much a family-orientated local Society, as witness the fact that the first event of Bonfire Night is a Fancy Dress Competition in the Village Hall, including prizes for children from 0 to 16, Pairs, Groups, and the Best Family Group in Fancy Dress (actually a Procession Prize). BBS shows its roots very clearly in this respect. The idea is that everybody (and the children especially) continue to wear their Fancy Dress and walk in the torchlit Procession that follows. As such, suitable costumes are favoured - excessive use of artificial fabrics and/or flammable materials isn't a good idea. The BBS Pioneer costume was "adventurous" red and black last year, before that classic Japanese - kimonos, obis, black wigs, white faces, samurai swords etc! Second Pioneers generally remain Dickensian if you don't have time to get a new costume together, and please see The Dickens Fair site for some Top Tips there. You can get away with a costume from up to the mid-19th century (strictly speaking Victorian) if you're struggling. Or adventurous red & black, or even yer basic smugglers red & black (can get striped Guernseys on the Web). BBS is the closest to Lewes a non-Lewes Society gets, and indeed we often get favourable feedback from Lewesians who have seen our displays from the town. BBS displays are surprisingly substantial, and are definitely very good value if you compare our budget to that of most other Bonfire Societies. We tend to have a display team (and of course Captain of Fireworks) that has learned to fill financial gaps with creativity! As for all Bonfire Societies, Remembrance is central to BBS. The next significant event after the Fancy Dress Competition is the Last Post being played, followed by the Remembrance Poppy (a fine set piece) being lit during the minute's silence that follows. The entire Procession is present, but no torches are lit. I always find this very moving. Procession routes are changing back this year to take in Barcombe Mills on the Main ...