James Foster will always remember Saturday, November 11 2023. It’ll mark his first Rye Bonfire as chairman of the team that has been working hard for months to make this year’s event happen. He’s been telling our Ryecast podcast about the challenges of putting on such an important night in Rye and how proud he is of continuing his family’s involvement over many decades. “I think I must have been about ten when I went to my first Rye Bonfire. I remember wearing a long black coat and a black top hat. It was a load of fun, and even then I knew it was part of a big tradition in Rye. A big privilege to be part of it, and it still is.”
His ambition is to make the event even more family friendly, moving the start time of the bonfire and fireworks an hour earlier this year and welcoming the closure of the train station for the night. “The town does get very crowded, and as much as we love visitors coming to Rye, we’re also keen that local people get a good spot to see the procession and enjoy the evening. So calming things down a bit but keeping the traditions of the past.”
On the evening, the Sussex bonfire societies parade through the town ending at the Salts where a boat is burnt on a huge bonfire, followed by fireworks. “The boat is the Rye tradition which makes our event different to all the other bonfire societies, and marks the town’s maritime history and how boats were burnt after Rye was invaded.”
As well as talking about this year’s event, as new chairman of Rye Bonfire Society, James Foster is looking to the future. “We’ll have to do a hell of a lot of fundraising for next year as there’s a big worry that Rother District Council will make us pay for hiring the Salts, the car parks and clearing up on Sunday morning.” For this year though, he can’t wait. “It’s the satisfaction of putting on a successful event and everyone enjoying themselves I look forward to. When we’re clearing up what’s left of the bonfire on a cold morning it’s good to remember the happy faces of people in Rye.”
You can hear more about how James Foster sees Rye Bonfire, past and present, on this week’s edition of the Ryecast podcast. Just search for Ryecast wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.ryecast.org. For the full timetable of this year’s pageant visit www.ryebonfire.co.uk
Image Credits: James Stewart , KT Bruce .
The Rye Bonfire is a great occasion for the town, enjoyed by many. I wish the organisers every success and thank them for the time they devote to the event. But unfortunately last year proved a fiasco as the fireworks could not be seen due to fog and many locals and visitors were left disappointed by the event. I’d respectfully ask the organisers to check the visibility next week before wasting £10,000 worth of fireworks like they did in 2022. This could easily be done by releasing a couple of rockets before the main display to actually verify they can be seen from the Salts. There is absolutely no point in running a fireworks display when nothing is visible, or visibility is limited.
Thank you James and all the bonfire society for a fab time whatever the weather. The weather can change so quickly It’s great that Rye Bonfire carries on regardless of it and no matter what a good time is had.