VOTE: Littlehampton Bonfire Night organisers turned a crisis into a triumph, so was it the best yet?

Dire warnings by Littlehampton Bonfire Society officials were ultimately heeded, though, and members and other groups rallied round, enabling Saturday’s (October 29) superb torchlight procession and fireworks to go ahead as planned.

Both were hailed as the biggest and best for years, and were matched by a new record for the charity street collection of just over £9,000.

Yet few among the tens of thousands of spectators would have been aware that just a few weeks earlier the bonfire society was on the brink of a catastrophe, without enough marshals, collectors and other volunteers to carry out task ranging from making torches to helping with fund-raising events.

Society secretary Richard Cooper said: “At the end of August this was very nearly cancelled due to the lack of helpers.

“That would have been it. We sent out two letters to members, warning that we would pack up.

“The message went round sufficiently to give members a jolt and realise it might not happen.”

He added: “We just want to thank everyone who rallied round and supported us in our hour of need.”

This year’s collection stood at £9,018 on Tuesday night, with a couple of buckets still to be counted, the highest yet for any bonfire or carnival in Sussex.

Did you think it was the best bonfire night yet?

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