The annual Guy Fawkes Night bonfire in Lewes drew an estimated 40,000 attendees, with eye-catching effigies of some of the UK’s recently controversial figures including Nigel Farage.
On Tuesday, November 5, several bonfire societies marched through the congested streets of the East Sussex town while carrying flaming torches and enormous effigies.
Although the celebrations were busier than 2023, most of the crowd had left by midnight, according to Sussex Police.
Chief Supt Howard Hodges said: “We thank the public for their support to ensure the Lewes bonfire celebrations were once again a spectacular event that have been enjoyed safely.”
The procession honours Guy Fawkes and the 1605 gunpowder plot, as well as the 17 Protestant martyrs who were killed by burning in the heart of Lewes in the 1550s, symbolised by 17 burning crosses.
Each bonfire society takes months to create an effigy, which is subsequently burned at bonfire locations after being paraded through the streets.
There were a few standouts this year.
Paula Vennells, the former chief executive of the Post Office, was featured in one effigy, while another focused on issues related to water quality and sewage.
An effigy of Paula Vennells, wearing an envelope addressed to HMP Lewes, is pulled through the streets by people in Justice For Postmasters t-shirts. It will be blown up later tonight #LewesBonfire pic.twitter.com/HaWOY0PrUc
— Emma Yeomans (@Effy_Yeomans) November 5, 2024
A smiling caricature of Nigel Farage was also seen, sporting a crimson waistband and holding a pint of beer and a cigarette.
Two men wearing spiked dog collars, one on a metal leash held by Farage and sporting a balaclava while wielding a beer bottle, the other throwing a brick, stand in vanguard.
HERE COMES NIGEL.. #LewesBonfire pic.twitter.com/5cppYrUtqd
— Daniel Pemberton (@DANIELPEMBERTON) November 5, 2024
The Cliffe Bonfire Society made the effigy, which seems to reference the far-right violence and riots that occurred earlier in the year after three young girls were killed in Southport.
Prior effigies featured Jeremy Clarkson operating a skip, Suella Braverman as an octopus, and Rishi Sunak riding a train.
The parade is a tradition still very much alive since the first recorded event in 1795.
