Publisher's Synopsis
"Remember, Remember the fifth of November, The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder and treason should ever be forgot." Not something you hear everyday, but down on the south coast there is still a fixation to celebrate an event from over four hundred years ago. One day a year the historic town of Battle, East Sussex sheds off its conservatism and feeds the flames of ancient rebellion.Bonfire celebrations here are not a few friends with a couple of sparklers and baked potatoes around a bonfire in the garden, but a year long preparation cumulating with a fiery and explosive parades around the town which includes reputedly the oldest guy in the world, a huge firework display and a 'Normus Gurt' bonfire witnessed by up to twenty thousands people but almost unknown outside the county borders. It has a four hundred year history which tales the story of how celebrations of the failure of the gunpowder plot evolved into today's multi organisation event. It includes the story of the perpetual struggle to keep the event alive against the back drop of indifference and even downright opposition from the establishment. It includes tales of how a local creation was instrumental in the law of the land being changed. How through all its problems the devotion of a band of Bonfire Boyes the event has, and still, raises thousands of pounds for local charities.
