Golden Parade

But in every other sense, it was a solid gold night of celebrations, as Littlehampton Bonfire Society staged a magnificent torchlight procession well worthy of its half century milestone.

The colour and detail of magnificent costumes, the drama and magic of dancing torch flames, the sounds of band music, accompanied by the shrill shrieks of steam road engine whistles, and the creativity behind the illuminated floats, all added up to a memorable autumn evening.

And few sights drew more admiring comments than the superb golden coach in which Miss Bonfire, 13-year-old Michelle Robins, rode proudly in the procession, with her attendants Rachel Jacobs and Melanie and Beverley Short sitting in the coachman's position.

Bonfire society member John Taylor spent months building the coach, which was kept top secret until Saturday night. Fairy lights, flashing in sequence, gave the impression the wheels were turning as the coach travelled along the parade route on an open-sided articulated lorry.

The decision to abandon the firework finale, which the bonfire society had promised would be "the like of which Littlehampton had never seen before" was taken less than an hour before the procession formed up along Fitzalan Road and Maltravers Road.

The only official rockets of the night, three of them, soared into the sky at 7.45pm to signal the start of the evening's entertainment. Then, with a chorus of toots from the seven steam engines, the procession set off through streets lined by tens of thousands of spectators, including the team of judges.

They awarded the 5th Littlehampton Sea Scouts first prize in the floats, for a Gold Diggers theme featuring a Klondike-style saloon bar, and beautifully-dressed ladies to keep the prospectors happy.

Second place went to St James the Great Church's Concert Choir, whose float recreated a Victorian Christmas Card scene, with pretty bonnets and period costumes straight from the box of a famous chocolates assortment.

Bayford Residents' Association members built a delightful jubilee crown float to commemorate both the bonfire society's golden jubilee and the Queen's 50 years on the throne. It took third place in the floats.

Shoreham's Beach Bateria samba band, with its stunning rhythms and uplifting drumming, won first place in the walking groups. Explosions dance troupe, whose members dressed up specially for the night as St Trinian's schoolgirls, took second place and another Littlehampton-based group, the Wick'etts cheerleaders, were third.

Explosions also won the youth award.

For more on the bonfire spectacular and plenty of pictures, see the Gazette, October 31.