After the hot and humid gathering in Mayfield yesterday, next Saturday, 26th September 2009 sees the Sussex Bonfire circus move to the West Sussex (former East Sussex!) town of Burgess Hill.

Back in Victorian times, Burgess Hill was known for it’s “theme park” at Victoria Gardens.  These days it’s better known as “that place between Brighton and Crawley, just off the A23.  Although often made to look second best to neighbouring Haywards Heath, it has twice the number of train stations, a railway junction AND a level crossing!  It also has the newish A2300, which, as well as having a smart number, it makes the town very easy to access, just 3 mins for Hickstead and the A23.

So, what about the bonfire?  In 1894 the first recorded bonfire celebrations were held in the town and in 1969 the society we know today was formed.  This year there are some changes to the procession route of the second procession, and also there will be a ceremony at the war memorial too, before the main events kick off.  Around 5,000 people attended the event last year, and many of the roads around the town are closed on a “rolling” basis, so try and be sensible with your parking, obey local instructions and be courteous to the residents of the town.

At 1840 there will be a service of remembrance at the war memorial for the members of the society, before the main procession gets underway from 1930.

FIRST PROCESSION (1930 start):

• Cyprus Road Car Park (behind the precinct)
  
• Crescent Road
• Mill Road
• Cyprus Road
• Church Road
• Station Road
• Silverdale Road

SECOND PROCESSION (2030 start):

• Silverdale Road
• Station Road
• Church Road NOTE: THIS IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
  
• Crescent Way NOTE: THIS IS A CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
• Church Road
• Lower Church Road
  
• Royal George Road
• Fairfield Road
• Western Road
• Fairfield Recreation Ground

Fireworks and the Bonfire will be around 21:45-22:00.

Burgess Hill station is served by frequent services from London, Brighton, Worthing and Hove and Wivelsfield station (which is like “Burgess Hill North station) is served by trains from Lewes and Eastbourne.

For more information, please see the programme of events, which is available for sale at shops in the town, or the Burgess Hill Bonfire Society website.

Note:  Some people call the procession a “bonfire parade”!  This is incorrect lingo!

With two dry bonfire processions down, this Saturday, 19th September 2009 sees the focus turn to the small village of Mayfield, between Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells.

Events in the village start early in the day, with a street market from 12:30-3:30pm in the village centre and at 3:15 the children of the society and village take part in their own procession from the Royal Oak to the War Memorial at St Dunstan’s Church in the village.

If you’re looking for something to do earlier in the day, then take a trip to the Congregational Church in the village, in Station Road near the junction with Rotherfield Road, where you will find a memorial in the courtyard to the six martyrs of Mayfield (and one of Rotherfield) who were burned near this location in the persecutions of Bloody Mary. But more of that when we visit Lewes on the 5th!

The main events of the evening kick off at 6:45, with the laying of a wreath at the War Memorial, followed by the crowning of the Bonfire Princess, who, I am reliably informed, will not be burnt on the fire (there isn’t one!)….

At 7:30 the first procession heads from West Street to the Rose and Crown, where “refreshments” will surely be served. At 8:20 we move off to Stone Cross, via South Street before forming up again at 9:15 to head from Stone Cross to Nat West. After this short procession the final “grand” procession heads from Nat West to the Memorial Hall, before fireworks at 10:15pm in Court Meadow!

Parking in small villages can be a nightmare, so make sure you arrive in plenty of time, or you will be in for a bit of a hike. Make sure you park with consideration.

Remember – Mayfield is a small and remote village with no station and can become very congested. The discharging of fireworks is not welcome in this procession and the local police will be backed up with reinforcements from around the County, so don’t try it!

Support the society and community by only buying merchandise and food from authorised retailers.  Programmes are on sale in the village with the full information!

GETTING THERE:

By car follow the A267 from Tunbridge Wells towards Heathfield or the A267 from Heathfield to Tunbridge Wells.

From the coast the best route is to Lewes and then take the A26 towards Uckfield, fork right to Ringmer on the B2192, follow the B2192 over the A22 at Halland and then after about four miles take the left hand fork just before Cross-in-Hand for Tunbridge Wells (A267) along the “Mayfield Flat” then follow the A267!

The (out of date) website can be found here!

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Like most of the early events, the Uckfield Bonfire Procession is actually a carnival, featuring floats as well as the societies and their torches.  As everyone prepares their stripes for the new season, everyone will be pleased to know that a dry evening is on the cards, and a repeat of last year’s drenching is highly unlikely!

Information on the processions is as follows (taken from and for full details see www.uckfieldcarnival.co.uk):

Roads will be closed from around 7pm, but be aware that Uckfield only has half a train service, with no line from the south.  Fireworks were held on the Friday night, but the funfair will still be in town!

Next week’s carnival and torchlight will be at Crowborough!

New badges have been purchased, the stripes have been hung up to air and the trousers are still being considered for replacement!  This Saturday night, the boyes and girls of Sussex Bonfire Societies will march through Uckfield in the first torchlit procession of 2009, and I’ll be there

Fletching Bonfire Society have requested that, unless you are local to Fletching (ie not Uckfield, Lewes etc) that you do not attempt to visit this year’s event.

Roads into the village will be CLOSED to ALL TRAFFIC except for those with passes and the road blocks will be a CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE from the village itself.  It should also be noted that the roads will be closed from LATE AFTERNOON.  The pubs in the village are also closed to non-locals on the night.

Alternative bonfire events on the night include Nevill in Lewes and Eastbourne.  The event is NOT on the usual weekend this year and there will be NO bonfire events on 10th October.

Thanks to Roger, Claire, Sophie, all the marshals, banner carriers, police, St John Ambulance, the Pentacle Drummers, Newhaven Youth Marching Band and all the other people who made the night happen!  See you at Barcombe!

Oh and afterwards, I put a rookie in my dustbin…. tee hee hee!

I’ve been down this morning, helping build the fences, the bonfire and bag up the torches.  It was a bit damp, but we don’t care (well, not that much!)

Some pictures from this morning….