Our bumper Southover Bonfire Society Programme is out in Lewes and it’s chock full of fabulous photos and some great stories about what people missed most last year and what they are looking forward to this time around; plus detailed instructions on how Bonfire is made; a wonderful article on things that make you go oooh!! (what’s not to love about that eh?); and lots, lots more.

To get your hands on one, it’s currently on sale at the Tourist Information Office, The King’s Head, The Swan, Winterbourne Stores and St Pancras Stores. Price £3 and all funds go to our fireworks.

You can never have too many badges adorning your firework finery. For 2021, here’s more mini works of Southover Bonfire Society art for sale at Badge Nights. New SBS members get ready for an obsession!

As we speak, there is plenty of plotting, planning and preparation behind the scenes for Southover Bonfire Society and its members in readiness for November 5 2021.

When people ask us if Bonfire is going ahead, all we can say is that we are planning as if it is but, like Bonfire Societies and other organisations everywhere, we are keeping a very close eye on any covid updates or changes made by the Government. This is an ever-changing situation and protecting people’s health and wellbeing is paramount.

We would like to thank everyone who has continued to support the Society through this very difficult period, and we are working hard to do all we can to commemorate ‘The 5th’ – whatever constraints we may yet face.

You can pick up your Southover Bonfire Society special badge and Membership Card (if you are new this year) at our Badge Nights which take place at The King’s Head, our HQ in Lewes.

This year’s dates are Sunday October 10, 6pm-8pm; Sunday October 31, 6pm-8pm; Thursday November 4, 7pm-9pm.

Bring your hard cash as our SBS merchandise will be on sale plus our costume stall looks forward to welcoming you. (Sorry it’s pounds and pennies only, we don’t do cards or gift vouchers or IOUs!)

If you’ve lost your Membership Card, or members of your family have, please order your replacements now. Replacement cards must be ordered before midday Saturday October 23 2021, for £3 each for collection at the remaining Badge Nights. Please email membership@southoverbs.com with “Replacement Card Order” in the subject field; a Mojo payment request will then be sent for completion.

In addition, if you are coming to the final two Badge Nights on Sunday October 31 and Thursday November 4, please remember to bring your red plastic SBS Membership Card(s) with you as we need to update them all with a 2021 sticker.

Don’t forget you do need to have renewed your membership online in advance of Badge Nights. To pay your subs, follow this link to the membership login: https://membermojo.co.uk/southoverbs/yourmembership

And finally…you need both your updated with a sticker 2021 Membership Card and 2021 Badge with you in order to process on November 5. Marshals are checking and you will be asked to leave the procession if you don’t have both of these with you. You will also be denied access to the firesite and fireworks.

We’ve got around 660 members in Southover Bonfire Society. New membership enquiries should initially be made by emailing the Membership Team.

Meet the folks playing some of our key Society roles and find out more about them, what they do and why they love it. Just visit the Who We Are page – hopefully you’ll be inspired to get involved and join them!

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to the pandemic and in adherence to government guidelines and to protect public health and safety, we have cancelled our celebration on November 5th 2020. This includes badge nights, processions, bonfire, firework displays, torches and tab. We have told our members and reiterate this here for everyone else, if people go out on the night individually or in groups, as a family or in SBS colours, they will be doing so under their own steam. They are not part of Southover Bonfire Society and should not claim to be so. This is to protect us against any insurance claims made in relation to COVID 19 or injuries resulting from this activity. We have told members that if a claim is made against them, we will not be able to defend them because our insurance will not cover them as we have officially cancelled the event. We are looking forward to coming back bigger than ever in 2021! ADVANCE!