About Hailsham Bonfire Society
Hailsham Bonfire Society is a volunteer-led community organisation based in Hailsham, East Sussex, responsible for bringing one of the town’s biggest annual celebrations to its streets each autumn.
The present society was reformed in 2005 after a 16-year absence, with the timing particularly appropriate: Bonfire returned to Hailsham during the 400th anniversary year of the Gunpowder Plot.
On 5 November 2005, flaming torches were once again carried through the town as the revived Hailsham Bonfire Society staged its first procession and fireworks display.
More than two decades later, the society is firmly established within Hailsham again. Its annual celebration attracts thousands of spectators and visiting societies, while fundraising events, charity collections and community activities keep members busy throughout the rest of the year.
Bonfire Returns to Hailsham
The revival of Hailsham Bonfire Society began with a determination to bring an old town tradition back to life.
Hailsham had been without its Bonfire celebration for 16 years when the society was re-established in 2005. Starting again meant rebuilding not only an event, but also the membership, equipment, fundraising and organisation required to make it possible.
The revived society chose an important year in which to do it.
2005 marked 400 years since the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, and on 5 November Hailsham celebrated the anniversary by welcoming Bonfire back to the town.
That first celebration established the foundations for the society that exists today.
Since then, Hailsham Bonfire Society has continued to develop its home celebration while building relationships with other societies and representing Hailsham at events elsewhere during the season.
Hailsham Bonfire Night
The annual Hailsham Bonfire celebration has become one of the largest free community events held in the town.
Thousands of spectators gather as the streets are illuminated by a torchlit procession through Hailsham, with members joined by visiting societies from across Sussex and beyond.
Flaming torches, banners, costumes and the different colours of the visiting societies transform the town centre for the evening.
After the procession, attention moves to Western Road Recreation Ground, where the celebration concludes with the society's fireworks display.
Although spectators see the finished event over the course of a few hours, staging Hailsham Bonfire requires months of preparation.
Torches have to be made and prepared, visiting societies coordinated, permissions and safety arrangements organised, equipment maintained and the considerable cost of the event raised.
Almost all of that work is undertaken by volunteers.
Representing Hailsham
An important part of belonging to Hailsham Bonfire Society is representing the town away from home.
Throughout the season, members travel to support other societies at their celebrations, carrying Hailsham's identity into processions across the region.
These visits are an important part of the society's year. They allow members to support the organisations that travel to Hailsham in return, while building the friendships and cooperation that help individual societies keep their celebrations going.
For Hailsham's younger members in particular, taking part in events elsewhere provides an opportunity to experience different processions and traditions while representing their own town.
A Society for the Community
Hailsham Bonfire Society's role extends well beyond organising one night of procession and fireworks.
The society is actively involved in the wider Hailsham community, taking part in local events and organising fundraising activities throughout the year.
Members have also contributed to Remembrance displays and other community projects, helping the society maintain a visible presence in the town outside the autumn season.
This community involvement is an important part of the modern society's identity.
Hailsham Bonfire Society was brought back by local people who wanted to restore something to their town, and that same community purpose continues to underpin its activities today.
Raising Money for Local Causes
Charitable fundraising is another important part of Hailsham Bonfire Society.
Collections and fundraising activities provide essential income towards staging the annual celebration, but the society also uses its work to support local charities and community organisations.
Recent beneficiaries have included Inspire Sussex and the Children With Cancer Fund.
The charitable element gives the work undertaken by members an additional purpose. The thousands of people who attend Bonfire, contribute to collections or support fundraising events are not only helping preserve the celebration but also helping organisations working within the surrounding community.
Flaming Fun Day
One of Hailsham Bonfire Society's largest events away from Bonfire Night is Flaming Fun Day.
Held at Western Road Recreation Ground, the same location used for the fireworks display, Flaming Fun Day provides a very different kind of society event.
Rather than torches and fireworks, the focus is on a free family day out, with entertainment, attractions, stalls, food and activities for children and adults.
The event gives local residents an opportunity to meet and support the society during the warmer months while helping raise some of the money required to stage Bonfire later in the year.
It also demonstrates the year-round nature of the organisation. By the time spectators see Hailsham Bonfire Society processing through the town in autumn, members have already spent much of the year organising events and raising funds.
The Junior Section
One of the strengths of Hailsham Bonfire Society is its junior section.
Encouraging children and young people to become involved gives families an opportunity to participate together and introduces another generation to the work involved in maintaining the society.
Junior members can become part of the society's activities and develop a connection with an organisation representing their home town.
That is particularly significant for a society that has already experienced what happens when a tradition disappears.
After Hailsham spent 16 years without its own Bonfire celebration, involving younger generations is one of the most effective ways of ensuring that the revived society continues long into the future.
Membership and Volunteering
Hailsham Bonfire Society welcomes new members of all ages.
Taking part can mean processing through Hailsham on Bonfire Night or travelling with the society to celebrations elsewhere, but those are only the most visible parts of membership.
Throughout the year, volunteers are required to help with fundraising, event preparation, equipment, administration, community activities and the organisation of the annual celebration.
There are therefore opportunities for people who want to process as well as those who would rather contribute behind the scenes.
Every additional volunteer helps spread the workload involved in staging events for thousands of people.
Supporting Hailsham Bonfire Society
As an independent volunteer organisation, Hailsham Bonfire Society depends heavily upon the support it receives from the town.
Local businesses provide sponsorship and other assistance, residents support fundraising events, spectators contribute to collections and members give up their time throughout the year.
That support is what allows the society to keep its main Bonfire celebration free for the community to attend.
It is easy to see the procession and fireworks as a single annual event, but they are actually the result of a much larger community effort.
A donation in a collecting bucket, attendance at Flaming Fun Day, sponsorship from a local business or a few hours volunteered by a member all contribute towards putting the next celebration on the streets.
Keeping Hailsham's Bonfire Burning
The modern story of Hailsham Bonfire Society is ultimately one of revival and continuity.
After Bonfire disappeared from Hailsham for 16 years, local volunteers brought the society back in 2005, appropriately choosing the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot to return flaming torches to the town.
What began as a revival has since become an established part of Hailsham's community calendar.
The annual procession and fireworks at Western Road Recreation Ground may be the society's most visible achievement, but behind them lies much more: Flaming Fun Day, charity fundraising, community projects, a growing membership and a junior section helping introduce another generation to the society.
More than 20 years after its reformation, Hailsham Bonfire Society continues to do exactly what its founders set out to achieve in 2005 – keeping Bonfire alive in Hailsham and bringing the town together in the process.