As the town gets ready for Rye Bonfire on Saturday 15 November, here are 30 facts to celebrate 30 years of Rye Bonfire. Of course, it’s been going for much longer, but fact number one explains all.
Click here for the full Rye Bonfire schedule.
1. 2025 is, in fact, the 31st year of the re-formed New Rye and District Bonfire Society, but as there was no event in 2020, due to the covid pandemic, this year is being celebrated as the 30th bonfire anniversary.
2. A lack of volunteers saw a break of several years before the new society was formed in 1994. To this day, the Bonfire Society is entirely run by volunteers.
3. The same happened in the 1970: the event could not run due to such reduced volunteer numbers. Volunteers really are the lifeblood of the society.
4. Ryebellion Drummers are all members of Rye Bonfire Society making them one of very few drumming groups directly affiliated to a Bonfire Society in Sussex.
5. Ryebellion were formed in 2016 and shortly after forming, founding member Ruth Palmer brought in Robert Draper as musical director. In his spare time, when he’s not drumming, Robert composes classical music and has had pieces performed at the Rye Arts Festival.
6. There are three drum types played in Ryebellion: bass, tom, and snare. The drummers practise all year round and often perform at other events in town. You can usually hear them…
7. Sussex Bonfire Societies all have distinctive uniform or colours. Rye’s colours are red and black, with a hint of green added for Ryebellion, to distinguish them from another local drumming group.
8. Rye Bonfire’s origins go back a long time before Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up parliament and historically Rye has always burned a boat, this may be due to the practice of burning captured vessels as a warning to other marauders at sea…
9. … or following the French invasion of Rye in 1377, Ryers burnt their own boats rather than have them commandeered under duress.
10. In the 18th century, burning boats were dragged through the town in a settling of old scores (not so much health and safety in those days!).
11. In 1875, the Head Constable of Rye, Parker Butcher, attempted to stop the procession and was hurled into a burning boat; he was eventually rescued after some difficulty and resistance.
12. By the early 20th century, the Rye Bonfire celebrations began to be a little less riotous and in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, a more carnival atmosphere was apparent.
13. Many floats took part in the procession back then, including the bloater boat float. A bloater is a Sussex delicacy of smoked herring.
14. Rye Bonfire Society members and volunteers make over 1,000 torches annually to ensure that all participating Bonfire Societies can light up the town.
15. This year, the 30th anniversary bonfire will be lit by a flaming torch made by Mayor Andy Stuart.
16. The famous dragon of Rye is called Scorcher. The current Scorcher is the third dragon to carry this name. Scorcher often makes a guest appearance at other local bonfires.
17. Since 2009, the honour of being chaired down to the fire site to light the bonfire has been bid on at the annual Auction of Promises. This is one of the Bonfire Society’s most popular fundraising events, and the chair is always an exciting and fiercely contended lot.
18. Prior to 2008, Rye Fawkes would have been a local celebrity or dignitary.
19. The first Rye Fawkes of the New Rye and District Bonfire Society was Spike Milligan in 1994…
20. …and in 1995, it was Rod Hull and Emu. A full list of Rye Fawkes can be found in our 2025 Bonfire programme, available now from various outlets in town.
21. The chair is always carried from the Landgate to the Salts fire site by another Bonfire Society, although in the past it was done by Rye Fire Services.
22. Visiting societies each wear distinctive outfits to the bonfire events they attend. You can expect to see highwaymen, monks, centurions, Vikings, and even convicts in jumpsuits, complete with arrows.
23. The Sussex Bonfire season runs from mid-September to November with the Rye Bonfire Society members, accompanied by Ryebellion, taking part in many of the other towns’ events around the whole of Sussex.
24. All monies needed to put on the event each year are fundraised by the Bonfire Society members and volunteers. They receive no public money or grants and the most expensive items are not the fireworks (surprisingly) but essential items such as security, insurance and road closures.
25. It is estimated that in 1994, up to 6,000 people attended Rye Bonfire compared to an estimated 10,000 plus in 2024.
26. You can imagine how much rubbish that number of people generates, which is why Rye Bonfire Society members, and a small army of volunteers, including diligent local businesses, are up at the crack of dawn the morning after the big night.*
27. Every bonfire that takes place in Sussex takes months of planning and negotiation with the relevant authorities. After all, you couldn’t have a few hundred people parading through towns and villages with flaming torches willy-nilly. And, as soon as 2025’s event has taken place, the work begins for 2026.
28. Rye usually hosts its bonfire pageant and extravaganza on the second Saturday in November (it’s on the 3rd Saturday this year – November 15). Throughout Sussex Bonfire season, Rye Bonfire Society members, including Ryebellion Drummers, can attend at least 10 other bonfire events.
29. Rye Bonfire Society has donated thousands of pounds over the years to worthwhile local causes from the money collected in the buckets on bonfire night – this is a bonfire tradition throughout Sussex.
30. Finally, Rye Bonfire wouldn’t and couldn’t happen each year without the support of the community. So thank you, each and every one of you, who donates and supports in helping to #keepryebonfireburning .
* This year, Rye and District Bonfire Society has asked us to publicise that attendees should, if possible, please bring reusable drinks containers (not glass), as this will help reduce rubbish and to take a step towards reducing landfill of single use plastic.
If you would like to help keep Rye Bonfire burning, you can donate directly via this crowdfunding link. Thank you in advance from RDBS.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Steve Hutchings/Rye Bonfire Society .
A big thank you to all volunteers of the Rye Bonfire Society.You have succeeded
Where so many of our other traditions have fallen by the wayside due to lack of volunteers ie Rye Carnival
You bring the Rye Community together for an evening of fun.
We wish you all another successful year
Gill and Jim Wood