Join us!

Join/Renew Your Membership

Without our members this event would not take place - so if you love Hastings Bonfire please join to support and be part of it. Come along to meet us and find out more. You can join at meetings or on-line below. 

Membership runs from 1st January - 31st December. Renewals are due on in January of each year. New membership applications close on 31st August, by when all membership forms and money must be received for those wishing to join Hastings Procession, enter the fire site and attend out-meetings.  Membership then re-opens at our November meeting.  New members joining in November get November and December free.  

Our members may join in our procession, and join us at processions of other societies throughout the bonfire season, subject to appropriate costume and following our rules.  Due to insurance and health & safety we cannot allow those who are not members of our, or other societies, join in processions or enter fire sites.

The Application Form is a couple of screens below...

Renewal of £15 membership subs is due January each year.

Please then contact our Membership Secretary, Sue, and say hello and how you've paid - feel free to attach your membership form if you don't expect to make a second-Tuesday Membership meeting soon to hand it in - membership-secretary@hbbs.info 

Annual membership is due in January; absolute deadline is end-August

Dress code if you want to process with us as a member

We have strict dress code options if you want to join our procession.  Details are for members on the members web page.  In summary our approved costumes are: -

·  “The Stripes” This is our main costume, central to the Sussex Bonfire Tradition and leads the society in all processions. Smugglers jumper in the Society’s colours of royal blue, gold and bright red stipes, the Cinque Ports colours. To order a jumper please complete the jumper measurements sheet on the website members page and send it to the membership secretary.  Black trousers. Strong boots

Recommended - head covering, e.g. A black hat : tricorn,  top, bowler or a knitted smugglers-style hat in either red, black or the society’s stripes or  a red head scarf  worn pirate / smuggler style.  A neck scarf (ideally red).  Socks (ideally red). Jerkin black or brown (leather / leather look non flammable material)

Any other costumes  march last, behind the Stripes  in all processions

·  Whatlington Renegades were a society without a bonfire. They wore tailcoats. Some founders of HBBS were also members of Whatlington Renegades. Wearing tailcoats has been optional since that time  and may be worn for other events such as the Borough’s Remembrance Day Parade, programme selling or carol singing.

·  The Halton Regiment is a specific additional costume to represent the regiment stationed at Halton Barracks in 1815 and the Royal Sussex Regiment. Please ask for specific details, as this costume is handmade to historically accurate details.

·  Naval in recognition of the Cyril and Lilian Bishop lifeboat.

 ·  Customs Officers - A customs’ officer costume is worn by long serving & senior members of the society - currently the  President, Vice-Presidents, current and ex-chairs. Customs Officers may walk in any position in the procession.

All:
·  Any and all costumes should be in keeping with the tradition of Sussex Bonfire.

·      All members must wear their current year's procession badge, regardless of their costume. It shows you are a current member and therefore under our insurance.

Not acceptable at any time: items of clothing that are clearly flammable and a risk, wellingtons, modern every day clothing, branding & logos, or blue jeans!

Safety: With any part of your costume you should consider the type of material. Does it burn easily? Does it ignite easily? There are different dangers with different fabrics. Safety glasses can be worn when near to fireworks, fire and when wind carries sparks, smoke and debris.  Ear plugs are recommend for use when there are loud bangs.  Members with long hair tend to plait it or tie it back.  It is recommended Junior members wear or have easy access to gloves, ear defenders and safety glasses.  Fabrics information: Natural fibres, when burnt, simply turn to ash as they burn. Synthetic, non-aramid fibres, melt as they burn. If a synthetic fabric catches and starts to burn, it will melt, drip, and fuse to your skin as it does so causing intense burns.  The tighter the weave, the less flammable it is. As for weight, the thicker the fabric, the more fire resistant it is.  If a fabric is loosely woven, or loosely worn, more oxygen can get in creating a higher flammability of that particular fabric. If it is tighter, less oxygen can get into each weave making it less flammable. Avoid anything with frays and fringes.

http://www.firegypsy.com/performance/safe-fire-performance-clothing-list/

Order a stripey jumper: New members may like to order a jumper - please speak to or email the membership secretary.  Please order well in advance of bonfire season. Write down your measurements using the jumper measurement guide. We recommend allowing for wearing something warm underneath, so consider ordering a size larger than you would normally take. Use another jumper to take the measurements. If you wish to knit your own jumper the pattern is on the membership pages.