Fireworks cancellation disappoints thousands
Bonfire societies from all over Sussex came together last Saturday evening to march along the streets of Hastings in a procession of drums, flares and flaming torchlights as the prelude to the annual conflagration on the beach. The effigy selected (out of a bumper heap of villainous candidates this year) was Southern Water, duly combusted in an enormous bonfire. But the high winds blowing off the sea persuaded organisers to confine the route to the seafront and later – to the disappointment of a large proportion of the crowd who were unaware of their last minute decision – to cancel the intended Grand Finale Firework Display on the beach.
CREDIT: Emma Bryant; Elana Tree; Neale Willis
The Hastings Bonfire Society issued a subsequent statement: “We are just as disappointed as everyone that the firework display couldn’t go ahead as planned. A year of work and fundraising goes into planning our event, and it’s run entirely by volunteers. We work closely with the authorities to make decisions in the interest of public safety.”
Frustrated celebrants said they understood that safety was paramount, but mourned the loss of atmosphere usually engendered by the red glow of torchlights carried through the narrow streets of the Old Town as well as the cancellation of the firework display.
• Bonfire celebrations in other towns and villages of East Sussex are planned for future Saturdays this autumn: 29 October at Staplecross; 5 November at Battle and Lewes; 12 November at Rye; and 19 November at Robertsbridge.
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