Lewes ready for the Fifth

THERE S no doubt about it. Lewes holds the finest bonfire festivities in the world and Monday s celebrations will be no exception.

Bonfire Night is the highlight of the year for hundreds, if not thousands, of bonfire boys and girls who have spent months preparing for the country s most exciting and colourful event.

Despite the huge effort involved and the great costs expended, spectators will be able to enjoy all the fun in the street free of charge.

All that the five societies ask is that the tens of thousands of visitors who flock to the town enjoy themselves and support the charitable collections that pass by.

Regular visitors will take the crush of the crowds and the complicated series of processions in their stride, but for first-timers it can become something of a minefield. The best bet is to buy as many bonfire programmes as possible and pick the society with the route that most suits one s fancy.

Make use of the map printed in the centre of this supplement, which lists all the firework sites. Leave your pets at home and keep an eye on your young children. The crowded, smoky, noisy streets can be quite frightening for the little ones.

Above all, enjoy the spirit and occasion of Lewes Bonfire Night.

People not staying in town would be wise to leave by 5pm before the thousands start pouring in. The crowds won t be as massive as they might be because this time Bonfire Night falls on a Monday but they will large enough. Say 30,000!

United procession

The fun starts about 5.30pm when most societies hold their children s processions. Cliffe opens with the ladies barrel run from Cliffe Corner at 6pm. Processions of remembrance take place from 6pm while the united procession, involving all the societies save Cliffe, takes place at 7.40pm.

Firesite processions take place at varying times with the first, Cliffe, starting at 8.45pm.

Final processions take place shortly before midnight, followed by bonfire prayers and God Save The Queen.