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The annual bonfire event in Lewes is set to draw thousands of attendees today. Six different bonfire societies will lead processions through the town in East Sussex, with colossal effigies paraded through the streets. Notable past effigies have included former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, as well as current American President Joe Biden. Similarly, Sussex Police is urging non-local spectators to stay away from the celebrations due to the risk of “crowd crushing and crowd movement” in the town’s narrow streets.
Chief Superintendent Howard Hodges spoke to BBC Radio Sussex and highlighted the complexity of the event. He reminded listeners that this traditional event is steeped in history, culture, and tradition. However, he also emphasized the risk inherent in the celebrations and reminded everyone that the police, ambulance, and fire service work in collaboration to ensure safety.
Although Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot occupy a prominent place in the UK’s autumnal bonfire tradition, Lewes Bonfire Society remembers the 17 martyrs who burned to death by Mary I in the town in the 1500s. The event, the result of the combined work of seven bonfire societies, dates back to the 19th Century, with most of the societies sharing this origin. Each society is located in a different part of town, centred around its own pub serving as an HQ. According to Lewes District Council, six societies will participate in this year’s event. Lewes Borough Bonfire Society and Cliffe Bonfire Society, which date back to 1853, merit special mention.
Participants also carry burning barrels and crosses reminiscent of the 17 Protestant martyrs who suffered under the auspices of Bloody Mary half a century before Guy Fawkes’s failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The event also draws attention for its effigies of politicians and celebrities, such as FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Donald Trump during his tenure as US President. These effigies are kept under wraps and revealed only on the night itself
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