On Saturday night, November 12 in Rye, wherever I turned there were smiling faces and lots of laughter. The work that goes into nights like these is often unseen and time consuming but people had fun, met up with old friends and made new ones.
Thank you to the organisers and all those who marshalled and helped and all those who took part in the parade.
I am going to let the photos tell the story but will let Dec Togher have the last words: “We loved the parade last night, it marks the start of the festive season in our families calendar. We like the old traditions being kept alive, the costumes, the noise and the atmosphere. It is family friendly and we always look forward to it.”
Of course people were disappointed that the fog shrouded the fireworks but nature once again shows she is a force to be reckoned with. However, talking to many people the next day they all said despite the disappointment at the end, they had had a fun evening. One couple who were checking out of The Mermaid on Sunday morning said that they were so delighted by the atmosphere of the town and the parade that they had booked again for next year. Always good to see the bright side of things even through a fog.
Rye Bonfire Society are always looking for more members (particularly younger members) to help run the event, planning for 2023 starts now, there is much to do! If you would like to become involved, and help keep the event going for years to come, please drop them a line via info@ryebonfire.co.uk.
Video by Martin Bruce
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Caroline Drummond , Sheila Caister .
I strongly beg to differ with Kt regarding the failure of the fireworks display. Many people on the night were very upset that the fireworks could not be seen. Sadly, the overwhelming feeling was one of disgruntlement after the event, in the opinion of about a dozen people I spoke to. The fireworks display has long been the centrepiece of the Rye Bonfire and represents the most costly component. Quite frankly, the main reason a lot of people attend the event, including visitors with kids, is to see the fireworks, which they were unable to do on this occasion. I find it hard to believe the organisers allowed the fireworks display to go ahead and wasted thousands of pounds of pyrotechnics. If there were doubts about the fog obscuring the fireworks, why not send up a couple of spare rockets to check the visibility? The bonfire societies are now left with the task of having to raise the money for next year’s display, as this year’s fireworks was a complete fiasco and the costly fireworks wasted. The fog was the cause, but the organisers’ response to it was the prime error. There were also several people flashing dangerous lasers on the night, with no sign that organisers or security acted to prevent this behaviour. Lessons need to be leaned from this year’s experience.
I completely agree with you. I would say thousands of people felt they had stood around and wasted their time. All the way from the Landgate to Puckhaber, and then Fishmarket Road and up Rye Hill, hundreds to thousands stood on higher ground to get a view, and expressed what a letdown the event had been. All they saw was a bonfire. But the real sadness came after the event when seeing how Rye was covered in discarded junk food and drunken fools. The streets covered in chips, polystyrene boxes, broken glass, cans and bottles of beer on the floor or left on walls or thrown in gardens. It’s as if people were invited from far and wide to trash Rye. Will the fish & chip shops and junk food outlets be contributing to the clean-up? I suggest the bonfire societies go to them first when raising money for next year.
Such a shame that the fog put a damper on the fireworks on this otherwise marvellous evening. A huge amount of work involved by the people that organise this spectacular event every year for which I’m sure we are all grateful. My guests only complaint was that they couldn’t get close enough to the buckets to throw in contributions. Someone also suggested that where the roads are blocked off, people are asked upon entry to contribute towards this hugely expensive event.
Thank you for these fabulous videos.
As a long-standing member of Section 5 Drummers of Hastings, I enjoyed the procession immensely, as always. The atmosphere and event is amazing; thankfully good weather, too this year! Even when we have taken part in the pouring rain, the joy of the spectators and those participating is second to none.
If you knew anything about fireworks you’d know it’s not a five minute job setting them up, do you think that had they cancelled them the firm employed to provide them would have spent all night in the dark disarming and removing them at no charge, disappointing yes but probably the only and safest option was to fire them.
Of course it’s all the fault of Guy Fawkes who chose to do his deadly deed in November, it’s a pity he didn’t do it in August when the weather would have been so much better.
Hear, hear! Unfortunately, Hastings Bonfire suffered similar consequences last month, due to the severe winds. The difficult decision to cancel the airborne fireworks was only made at 8pm as the winds were causing dangerous circumstances which meant that the spectators and participators were at risk. From the amount of complaints on social media, it would appear that some people would have preferred the possibility of being harmed, rather than be safe.
A few familiar faces and places in these lovely pics. We thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings, and I for one didn’t feel the lack of visibility was an issue. As shown in the pics the atmosphere was fabulous. The drummers really did us proud, and I have to say a massive thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make a wonderful memorable evening.
When I lived at Rye Harbour In the late 60s it was a “take your life in your own hands situation ” fireworks and rockets all over the place, but brilliant!!