FEARS FOR FUTURE OF BONFIRE SOCIETY

Six of Borough Bonfire Society's 16 committee members recently resigned and the society - in existence at least by 1853 - is to hold an emergency meeting at Lewes

Constitutional Club on December 8 to find a way forward.

Geoff Burrow, one member who resigned, told the Express this week that his decision to leave the committee, along with his wife Maureen, was a personal matter.

'I just felt we weren't going anywhere,' he said. 'The membership doesn't seem to be getting any bigger.

'At the age of 63, I want to give someone younger a chance. Sooner or later, after all, we shan't be there to help.

'It's time to let the younger ones in. Some feel the committee is a bit of a closed shop.

'I don't think Borough will die. It just needs an injection of new members.

'Perhaps we are getting too old and staid. I shall stay a member.'

Borough chairman John Winter, while agreeing that younger members were needed, said he wanted to keep the bonfire traditions in place.

'There have been a few upsets but nothing serious,' he added.

'People have not been agreeing with each other over a number of small things which have built up into something bigger than they should have done.'

Mr Winter cited an instance when some members suggested that collection money on the night should be collected in sealed boxes, but no other society did that, he said.

There had also been complaints, some time earlier, about security at the gate where a 3 admission fee to the bonfire site near the motor road was charged.

The system was changed and finished up not as good as it was before.

The differences of opinion had built up over time, he added.

But he pledged that Borough would not fold.