11 July 2009
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General Interest

Fire and ceremony at Lewes

Lewes:Live

We are broadcasting live from Lewes on Bonfire Night - on the radio, on the web and live on camera. All on the 400th anniversary of bonfire - in association with Rocket FM.

Lewes Live

We will be streaming live video from the War Memorial area of central Lewes from 6pm on Saturday November 5th. To see the video, just click the link at the top right hand side of this page. You won't be able to see an image until we begin broadcasting. The video link will stay live until around 9.30pm. Look out for our presenters in the crowd - we'd love to talk to you.

A child watches the Lewes bonfire parade

Marchers of all ages take part

'Don't come to Lewes' is the message from bonfire societies as the town gears up for its 400th anniversary celebrations.

But you can still enjoy the breathtaking scenes as thousands of costumed marchers take over the county town.

We are streaming live video of events from the town centre from 6pm and broadcasting on air throughout the evening until 1am.

On the radio, we've teamed up with Lewes' own radio bonfire experts - Rocket FM. Our presenters Tommy Boyd and Charlie Crocker, together with reporter Rebecca Drought, will be bringing you events as they happen across the evening together with interviews from Rocket's own experts Rupert Lloyd Thomas and Kevin Cramer.

We're also inviting your photographs of events so that we can build a gallery of the day. If you've got a great picture that helps to tell the story of the day, then email it to us at southerncounties@bbc.co.uk.

Businesses across the town centre have been preparing for the night's festivities by boarding up their windows. The town's Thebes Gallery is also showing a series of special firework photographs by local man Marcus Taylor.

At least 40,000 people turn out for a standard Lewes bonfire night and this year's anniversary means that higher numbers still are very likely. But police say they will be closing all roads into the town by 4pm.

Public transport will be very crowded and you can expect long queues both in and out of Lewes after the bonfires until after midnight.

last updated: 04/11/05

Have Your Say

Why has the tradition lasted so long? Can it last another 400 years? Are you at the Lewes celebrations this year? Tell us what you think....

Louise
I was marching in the Borough Bonfire Band this year, which was loads of fun. My first time in Lewes and I have to say, it is a bit of a health and safety nightmare, but I really enjoyed it. The anti-catholic feeling is all part of the tradition. They're remembering 17 Lewes protestants who were burned at the stake by catholics in the 1500s.