FIRLE BONFIRE SOCIETY

Sussex is a glorious county, the so-called garden of England and for very good reason. I've lived in Sussex most of my life, including: Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford, Newhaven, Hadlow Down, and of course Herstmonceux.

There is so much of interest to see and do in the United Kingdom, and we hope to expand the local geography section as time allows, to cover the most interesting aspects of this wonderful country.

Police have arrested seven people on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after a bonfire society torched an effigy of a caravan with a gypsy family painted on the side.

The bonfire society has denied racism and said that during the summer travellers had moved onto privately owned land and the effigy was a symbolic reminder of the events. Other figures such as President Bush and Osama Bin Laden had also been burned in the past, the society said. But the gypsy effigy has been condemned by the Commission for Racial Equality.

FIRLE Bonfire Society is appealing for cash to help pay for legal expenses incurred as a result of the police investigation that followed the village's Bonfire Night last year.

Twelve members of the society faced prosecution for racism after an effigy of a gipsy caravan was blown up.

The members fought to prove their innocence until July this year when the Crown Prosecution Service said it would not go ahead with prosecutions.

Said a Firle Bonfire spokesman: 'For nine months the lives of the Firle 12 were put on hold as they awaited the decision of the CPS, and finally common sense prevailed in July when it was announced that no charges would be brought.

'Life can now move on, both for the Firle 12 and the bonfire society who received fantastic support from Firle village, surrounding villages, nationally and beyond.

'However, in order to prove their innocence it was essential that the Firle 12 had legal advice and, although some elements of their case were covered by legal aid, the majority of this advice had to be paid for.
'The length of time the case took to conclude also meant that a great deal of legal support was required.

'As a result, the bonfire society is now faced with a substantial bill for legal fees and this is why we have launched an appeal.'

The sum owed by the society is believed to be between £1,000 and £2,000.
Anyone can make a donation to the Firle 12 Legal Fees Fund by paying into the society's bank account – Firle Bonfire Society Ltd, Sort Code: 72-00-00, Account No 313804508 – or by paying at the Ram Inn, Firle, or Firle Post Office and Store.

l Rory Love, Tory parliamentary canidate for Lewes, was at Firle Bonfire on Saturday. Afterwards he said: 'Last year's Firle Bonfire hit the headlines, quite undeservedly, for all the wrong reasons.

'Saturday's event was a great evening, and I wanted to demonstrate my support for the Firle 12 who have had a cloud hanging over them for much of the year.'

The Bonfire Societies of the south east of England fulfill many functions apart from celebrating Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks. Other occasions are celebrated, often with Guy very much taking a back seat. These are occasions raising many thousands of pounds are for charities and other worthy causes, where the which the whole family can enjoy.

Barcombe Bonfire Society - Information about their history, events and activities. BBS is 'the closest to Lewes a non-Lewes Society gets'.

"Firle upholds and promotes all that's excellent about traditional Sussex Bonfire and holds a Bonfire Night with torchlit processions and fireworks each October".

Hundreds of images and loads of info of our bonfire celebrations, Guy Fawkes day, gunpowder plot and 5th November.

The Lewes Bonfire Council co-ordinates the activities of the town's six Bonfire Societies - Cliffe, Commercial Square, Lewes Borough, Nevill Juvenile, South Street and Waterloo.

Cliffe Bonfire Society - Recordings of the proceedings of Cliffe Bonfire Society, Lewes. listen to the bonfire chants and fireworks

The name originates from the Anglo-Saxon word meaning oak woodland. The main settlement in the parish is West Firle; in the 13th century there was an East Firle, in which was the manor of Heighton St Clere, which is now long defunct. Firle Place is situated in the parish. Firle received mention in the Domesday Book.

It has a lovely location in the South Downs, great for going on walks in, and buildings in the village include The Ram Inn and Firle School. The church is pleasant to visit, and there is a WWII Memorial.

Every year shortly after 5th November it holds the Firle Bonfire Society (FBS), which got in trouble two years ago for blowing up an effigy gypsy caravan made of cardboard.

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