Events

Southover’s timetable of events for 2023 (all times approx)

As well as the Grand Procession, where we join many of our fellow Bonfire boys and belles from the other Lewes societies, we have a number of processions within the Southover area on Saturday (November 4). All timings are approximate. Members of Southover Bonfire Society should listen to the marshals and enjoy the night!

The full timetable is in our SBS programme and you can find it below:

MARKING THE BOUNDARIES
16:40 – Form up, Eastport Lane; 16:50 – Move off from Eastport Lane via Garden Street, Southover Road, St Andrew’s Lane, High Street, War Memorial (where a short service of remembrance will take place – hats off, please). Processions begin down School Hill to Cliffe Bridge (where the flaming barrel will be tossed into the river). Then on via Railway Lane, Court Road, Friars Walk, Lansdown Place, Southover Road, past The Grange with the procession ending at The King’s Head at 17:45.

PROCESSION OF REMEMBRANCE
18:00 – Form up Southover Road at bottom of Keere Street; 18:10 – Move off from Grange Road via St Pancras Road, The Course, Potters Lane, Southover High Street to Southover Church (for a service of remembrance – hats off, please) from 18:30-18:50. After this has ended, front ranks of Southover Monks, Buccaneers and The Imperial Marching Band make their way to The Swan while rear ranks of Smugglers and guests make their way to The King’s Head.

SOUTHOVER GRAND PROCESSION
19:30 – Rear ranks (as above) form up at The King’s Head; 19:40 – Front ranks (as above) form up at The Swan; 19:45 – Rear ranks move off along Southover High Street to join front ranks waiting at The Swan. 19:55 – All ranks move off from The Swan via Bell Lane to retorch at top of Western Road, passing and viewing Society tableau; 20:15 – Procession arrives at the top of Western Road for retorching and entertainment from the band; 20:30 – Move off following Borough Bonfire Society via Western Road and the High Street; 21:00 – From Station Street continue the procession via The Grange with the procession ending at The King’s Head at 21:15.

A SILENT WALK TO THE CONVENT FIELD
21:50 – Form up at The King’s Head; 21:50 -The Society walks in mixed ranks to the Convent Field via Cockshut Lane through the Priory without bands and without torches; 22:05 – Arrive at Convent Field to be met with torches for Bonfire Prayers; 22:30 – Smugglers return to The Swan; remaining Society members to The King’s Head.

FINAL PROCESSION FOR BONFIRE PRAYERS
23:20 – Remaining ranks to form up at Eastport Lane; 23:30 – Remaining ranks move off to The King’s Head via Garden Street; 23:40 – Arrive at The King’s Head and occupy the roundabout for Bonfire Prayers.

Please listen to your marshals. Photo below courtesy of Emma Howard.

Southover Open Gardens blooms again!

Southover Open Gardens is back and blooming again for 2023 with a trail of secret gardens to explore in Lewes on Sunday June 11 from 2pm – 5pm.

The event is hosted by us, Southover Bonfire Society, and is raising funds to buy some of the fireworks Lewes is famous for. There are a wide range of gardens to see, including several new ones: from large traditional English spaces to those that are smaller, or with a more contemporary feel.

Entry is by ticket only at £5 per person, kids under 16 go free.

STOP PRESS:

Our advanced online ticket portal is now closed as of June 8. Anyone who has purchased an online ticket will receive their map by email from June 9. The great news is you can still buy paper tickets for this Sunday June 11, 2pm-5pm, £5 per adult, kids under 16 go free) from:

The Swan Pub, 30 Southover High Street, Lewes, BN7 1HU; The King’s Head, 9 Southover High Street, Lewes, BN7 1HS; St Pancras Stores, Barber Court, St Pancras Road, Lewes, BN7 1JQ (open all week but only from 7.30am-1.30pm on Sundays); Lewes Tourist Information, 187 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2DE (open Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, closed Sundays).

On the day itself, we plan to have two ticket sales points from 1.30pm until 4pm at the bottom of Keere Street and outside The Swan pub.

At the event, we kindly ask people to either have their printed ticket or have their electronic version showing on their phones to gain entry.

More info about Southover Open Gardens can be found on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/opengardensofsouthover/

The Southover Open Gardens event email: events@southoverbs.com

May Fayre magic at The Priory 2023

Get your kirtles and surcoats on, people. Yes we are back again hosting our fantastic Feast of St Pancras May Fayre which returns to Lewes Priory Park on Saturday and Sunday May 13 & 14 2023, 12 noon – 5pm both days. It’s Southover Bonfire Society’s 12th year of fun for all the family and this year we have some fabulous new attractions joining our favourites – including the chance to parade your pawfect pooches in not one but two Medieval Mutts dog shows! We are also very lucky to have green-fingered gardening writer, Ciar Byrne, on hand to help you with all your questions of a herbaceous variety.

Plus we have our usual line up of bonkers games to test your skills featuring rolling swedes, splatting rats and very moist wet stocks to pop your nearest and dearest in.

And let’s not forget a treasure island, fab tombola, a flourishing plant stall and plenty of opportunities to win some great prizes.

We’ve also got an ale and hearty bar, wood fired pizzas and stalls with other delicious and hard-to-resist culinary delights. What’s more it’s also going to be another biggie this year with hundreds of re-enactors recreating the Battle of Lewes on the streets of our town so there’s plenty of action of the armour-suited variety taking place over the two days.

What’s not to love?

Feel free to dress up in medieval garb for this brilliant family event. Entry is absolutely free. Entry via Cockshut Road, Southover, Lewes, BN7 1HP. Close to Lewes railway station too. More info via email: may.fayre@southoverbs.com

https://www.facebook.com/LewesMayFayre

https://www.instagram.com/southoverbonfiresociety/

Southover’s Timetable of Events for 2022

As well as the Grand Procession, where we join many of our fellow Bonfire boys and belles from the other Lewes societies, we have a number of processions within the Southover area on November 5. All timings are approximate. Members of Southover Bonfire Society should listen to the marshals and enjoy the night!

MARKING THE BOUNDARIES
16:40 – Form up, Eastport Lane; 16:55 – Move off from Eastport Lane via Garden Street, Southover Road, St Andrew’s Lane, High Street, War Memorial (where a short service of remembrance will take place – hats off, please). Processions begin down School Hill to Cliffe Bridge (where the flaming barrel will be tossed into the river). Then on via Railway Lane, Court Road, Friars Walk, Lansdown Place, Southover Road, past The Grange with the procession ending at The King’s Head at 17:45.

A SILENT WALK TO THE CONVENT FIELD
21:40 – Form up at The King’s Head; 21:50 -The Society walks in mixed ranks to the Convent Field via Cockshut Lane through the Priory without bands and without torches; 22:05 – Arrive at Convent Field to be met with torches for Bonfire Prayers; 22:30 – Smugglers return to The Swan; remaining Society members to The King’s Head.

FINAL PROCESSION FOR BONFIRE PRAYERS
23:00 – Remaining ranks to form up at The King’s Head in mixed ranks; 23:10 – Remaining ranks move off to The Swan via Southover High Street; 23:10 – Smugglers form up at The Swan; 23:20 – Remaining ranks meet at The Swan and are led back to The King’s Head to arrive at 23:30 for farewell to the night and Bonfire Prayers at 23:40.

2022 Badge Nights at The Swan

Southover Bonfire Society Badge Nights are back this year and are all taking place at The Swan on Sunday October 16 2022 and Sunday October 30 2022 from 7pm – 9pm; and Friday November 4 2022 from 6pm – 8pm. There will be merchandise and pre loved costume on sale as well as plenty of Bonfire banter. We will also have our Society photographers on hand to ‘pap’ our SBS members so do turn up in your finery.

Please make sure you have renewed your membership online in advance of Badge Nights. If you are coming to Badge Nights, please remember to bring your red plastic SBS Membership Card(s) with you as we need to update them all with a 2022 sticker.

If you are not sure where they are, please look for them now. If you’ve lost them, replacement cards can be ordered before midday Friday October 7, for £3 each for collection at 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. New member cards and previously ordered replacement cards can be collected at any Badge Night.

You need both your 2022 Membership Card and Badge with you in order to process on November 5. Marshals are checking and you will be asked to leave the procession. You will also be denied access to the firesite and fireworks if you don’t have these with you.

For any membership issues, please contact membership@southoverbs.com

Torchmaking on Sundays

Wilson, our doggedly determined prize torch-maker and author of the Ruff Guide to Bonfire is primed and ready for our Sunday torchmaking sessions for SBS members on Sundays until we’re done making 3,500 of them we need for Bonfire Night. Torchmaking (with training) is taking place at our HQ The Swan Inn, 9.30am til 11.30am. STOP PRESS: As at October 16, we have completed all our torches. Treat yourself to a lie-in!

Southover Open Gardens is back

Southover Open Gardens is back and blooming again for 2022 with a trail of secret gardens to explore in Lewes on Sunday June 12 from 2pm – 5pm. Entry is by ticket only at £5 per person, kids go free.

STOP PRESS: As of Friday June 10 we have sold out of our online tickets but you can buy paper tickets from the following Lewes outlets – please note opening times for Sunday:

Tickets can be purchased from The Swan Pub, 30 Southover High Street, Lewes, BN7 1HU; Lewes Tourist Information, 187 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2DE (open all week but only 10am-2pm on Sundays); St Pancras Stores, Barber Court, St Pancras Road, Lewes, BN7 1JQ (open all week but only from 7.30am until 1.30pm on Sundays).

You can also buy them from our stall setting up at the bottom of Keere Street, Lewes, from 1.45pm on the actual day (June 12).

Tickets have the map printed on them too.

Please make sure you have your tickets printed out and with you or, if you bought them online, available on your phone so you can show them at each garden on entry.

If you are on Facebook, please follow us at https://www.facebook.com/opengardensofsouthover/

May Fayre magic returns!

Medieval magic is back in all its glory at our fantastic Feast of St Pancras May Fayre which returns to Lewes Priory Park on Saturday and Sunday May 14 & 15 2022. It’s Southover Bonfire Society’s 11th year of fun for all the family and this year we have some fabulous new attractions joining our favourites including bonkers games to test your skills such as smashing crockery, rolling swedes, splatting rats and very moist wet stocks to pop your nearest and dearest in.

Plus there’s crafts people, a treasure island, fab tombola, a brilliant plant and garden stall, and plenty of opportunities to win some great prizes. We’ve also got an ale and hearty bar, wood fired pizzas and stalls with other delicious and hard-to-resist culinary delights. What’s more it’s also going to be a biggie this year with hundreds of re-enactors recreating the Battle of Lewes on the streets of our town so there’s plenty of action of the armour-suited variety taking place over the two days. Can you hear the chainmail and swords clanking people?

Feel free to dress up in medieval garb for this brilliant family event. Entry is absolutely free and the fun takes place from 12noon to 5pm both days. Entry via Cockshut Road, Southover, Lewes, BN7 1HP. Close to Lewes railway station too. Follow us on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/LewesMayFayre

https://www.instagram.com/southoverbonfiresociety/

https://twitter.com/SouthoverLewes

Website: http://www.southoverbs.com/

Our AGM is on April 24

Our Annual General Meeting is coming up shortly for members-only.

You should have received notice via email. If you are interested in attending, and are a current member of the Society, then do please check your mailbox or your junk/spam folder.

Brief details are – it’s taking place at The Rook Inn at Lewes Football Club in Mountfield Road on Sunday April 24 at 5pm.

Aside from financials and a report of the year just passed, there’s an opportunity for elections and re-elections of SBS-ers to help guide the Society forward.

If you have some great ideas for the Society and would like to join fellow SBS-ers on Committee, then do please apply using this application form.

Any questions in the meantime, please contact secretary@southoverbs.com

Timetable of events 2021

All timings for our processions on November 5 2021 are subject to change and very approximate!

Badge Nights!

After two whole years, our Badge Nights are back for members at our HQ, The King’s Head.

This year’s dates are Sunday October 10, 6pm-8pm; Sunday October 31, 6pm-8pm; Thursday November 4, 7pm-9pm. Merchandise and costumes are also for sale – cash only please.

Don’t forget you do need to have renewed your membership online in advance of Badge Nights.

To renew your membership, follow this link: https://membermojo.co.uk/southoverbs/yourmembership

Also, please make sure you check you’ve still got your Membership Cards. If you’ve lost yours or members of your family have, you need to order replacements NOW!

Replacement cards can be ordered before midday Saturday October 23 2021, for £3 each for collection at 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.

Please also remember to bring your red plastic SBS Membership Card(s) with you to Badge Nights as we need to update them all with a 2021 sticker.

You need both your 2021 updated 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.

For more information on all things membership, check out the Membership page on this website.

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

Outmeetings in 2021

Due to the pandemic, a lot of Sussex Bonfire Societies have cancelled their events for 2021 but our Outmeetings Team are busy trying to find some that we might be able to get an invite for.

Please remember to follow the guidance from the host Bonfire Societies and listen to the SBS marshals at the event. You must be a member of SBS and have a 2020 SBS membership card and badge for events before November 4 2021 and a 2021 membership card and badge for outmeetings after November 5 2021.

Further info about outmeetings is also published on our SBS Facebook members-only site and in Advance Notice, our regular email news update.

More info via outmeetings@southoverbs.com

Torch making

2021 and the pandemic meant we had a small band of volunteers who were able to meet to make our torches this year so we didn’t hold sessions for members this season. Let’s hope we can get back to the fun and frolics of torch making in 2022.

Wilson, our Society mascot, likes to pretend he made all the torches