Firle Bonfire

   Sussex. In November 2003 the Firle Bonfire Society burned a caravan with effigies of Gypsies looking out of the window and anti-Gypsy graffiti painted on it. This was in line with an annual tradition of burning effigies of political figures on Guy Fawkes Day, 5 November, but this time the authorities felt the ceremony had gone too far and several members of the organizing committee were arrested and charged with incitement to racial hatred. Following this, there were a number of initiatives to move forward in a constructive way, and the local Lewes Council formed a working party to develop new strategies relating to caravan sites. In 2004, more than 100 Gypsies staged a bonfire of their own at nearby Southerham. They were joined by a number of Firle residents.