Getting ready for record-breaking bonfire night in Littlehampton

Littlehampton Bonfire Society will stage its 58th annual traditional celebrations, complete with mammoth bonfire, spectacular fireworks and the famous grand torchlight procession, on Saturday (October 30), and aims to raise a record-breaking £10,000, in 2010.

Society secretary Richard Cooper said: “We are proud that, despite ever-increasing costs of staging our event, every penny of our collection goes to the charities and good causes we support, with £8,051 being donated from our 2009 event alone.

“We charge no entry fee, but we do ask spectators to show their appreciation by donating as much as they are able to our collection buckets. Donations will directly benefit the local community.”

The fun will kick off during the day, when the Dignity Charity Fair Organ will play in the town centre, before the children’s fancy dress competition, at Littlehampton fire station, which will be followed by the children’s parade, led by the Littlehampton and Arundel District Scout Band.

The grand procession will feature more than 60 entries this year, including Doug Williamson, who will be bringing his 1925 Foden steam tractor all the way from Dunstable in Bedfordshire, eight marching bands, and, of course, Miss Bonfire 2010, Georgina Combes, 13.

The collection will be split between Arun Southcoast Judo Club, the 1087 (Arun Valley) Squadron Air Training Corps, Arun Dolphins, a swimming club for the disabled, Sussex Tornados cheerleading troupe, the Alzheimer’s Society Centre Club, in Worthing, and Littlehampton charity, Jamie’s Wish.

Programmes, which include full details of timings, as well as the procession route, are on sale now at a number of local shops, including the Gazette office, in Beach Road.