For Bonfire weekend the group headed south to enjoy the Lewes Bonfire celebrations. We arrived in Brighton just before lunch on Saturday, entered a car park without paying, and headed straight for the oldest part of town, The Lanes. Making our way through the narrow streets, passing the bars, jewelry shops and gift shops we eventually stopped at a café. Whilst eating, drinking and reading newspapers we received a call from Delfim to say they had arrived in Brighton and so we all headed to the Pier to meet in the pub.
After a quick pint in the pub it was time to think about a decent meal. We decided to head back to The Lanes and settled on the popular Italian restaurant, Donatello. Andrew flirted outrageously with the pretty waitress, even trying to take crafty photographs of her without her knowledge!
Time flew by and by late afternoon we had to rush back to the cars where Paul successfully blagged our way out of paying for the car park. We raced to the hostel in Brighton to check in and leave our bags before driving the short distance to Lewes.
We already knew that much of the town would be closed to traffic and it took quite some time to find parking spaces. Finally parked, everyone headed to the town centre. We had arrived too late for some of the earlier processions but managed to get a good location for the final Grand Procession.
The procession began, hundreds of people filing past in costumes carrying flaming torches. Many of those in the procession dropped firecrackers which exploded with such volume and force that our ears rang and the streets shook. Andrew even managed to get a cut on the eye, it really did feel like a war zone at times.
The Grand Procession - Photo by Gary Box
With the procession over each Bonfire society marched to a different part of the town to light their own bonfire and set off their own fireworks. The Cliffe society is thought to arrange the best display but theirs is advance ticket only. The advice of a local girl I met suggested we would be best to head to the display organised by the Waterloo Society, and this we did after a detour to a pub for a drink.
Upon arriving at the field we could not mistake the huge pile of wood which was to become the bonfire. Once lit, flames began to rise high into the sky and the heat it gave off was quite something.
Bonfire at Brooks Playing Fields - Photo by Gary Box
Finally the firework display began. Unfortunately the photographs here do not do it justice. The display was the best I've ever seen in terms of duration and intensity. Fireworks poured out of an effigy of the pope, huge crosses were set alight and the whole sky was ablaze. I could not imagine how much money was spent on these displays but the societies are to be congratulated in organising an amazing event.
Paul watching the fireworks - Photo by Gary Box
Finally the Waterloo display was finished, but others continued as we began the walk back to the cars. John and Peter returned to London, the rest of us headed for the hostel. Paul was back at the hostel first, two minutes after it had closed! Luckily one of the guys working at the hostel returned from the pub, letting us in. Many of us stayed up until the early hours, drinking and telling jokes.
Sunday the group divided into two, some visiting Brighton again, the rest of us deciding to look around Wakehurst Place. The weather was not great and much of the autumn colour had disappeared but the fresh air did us good.
Autumn Leaves at Wakehurst Place - Photo by Jen Harris
With the weather showing no signs of improving we left Wakehurst Place and visited a local pub for a roast dinner, some drinks and conversation. The weekend was now almost over, we said our goodbyes and began the drive back to the capital.
Article submitted by Gary Box
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