Subject to there being NO TRAIN STRIKE. in the event of a strike, it is possible a local fireworks maybe arranged.
There will be Donation Buckets (Please be as generous as you can) at the Entrance. Donations and carpark are payable in CASH. They are trialling CASHLESS PAYMENTS on the CATERING STALLS AND PIG AUCTION.

Further details from Paul:

This is no ordinary bonfire etc. They’ve been building the bonfire since September, and they even have some kind of ceremony with the cinders on the Sunday which I believe involves Morris Dancing?. ..(it’s called Burning the Sticks)

Well, I’m not intending staying overnight there, but – as I only go to this event about eight-yearly – I do intend to do the whole blooming thing, starting at 6.30pm with the marching band procession leaving Brockham Green at this time – flaming torches will be given out. The procession goes down south to a hamlet (Stroud Green, I believe) and then back again a different way to Brockham. The huge bonfire will be lit by one of the torches at 7.45pm, once the Guy effigy has been placed on top. The Fireworks are at 8.15pm, and, as I’m not really into roasting pigs, I’ll hang around a just a bit and then leave.

You don’t actually pay an admission fee as the village is open to all, but there will be donation buckets for your coins or notes. You can also sponsor a firework! Food is sold at stalls and the pub is open, but quite frankly I never do any of this owing to the queues, so you could bring your own sustenance along.

To get there and back I shall be walking along what’s known as the Old Coach Road from Dorking to the village, a walk of around 45 mins. One can get to Brockham by car and use a car park, or one can go by special bonfire bus from Redhill/Reigate or Dorking. Again, I never do this, as I don’t drive, and I’ve heard that the buses get full, and it’s nice walking back in the dark with the other crowds.

So there’s quite a bit of walking involved, but if anyone wants to try the car or bus option, or doesn’t want to do the whole thing (i.e., just turn up later for the Bonfire & Fireworks) then that’s fine…I’ll leave my phone on loud – keep ringing and ringing!

May I suggest you go to the website for the bonfire: www.brockham.org/brockham-bonfire

…to see all the details of the above.

I am going whatever the weather, and may not even look at the forecast!

I suggest we meet outside Dorking DEEPDENE RAILWAY STATION to leave here on foot BY 5.00pm. I shall come from Epsom Downs, so I’ll leave you to arrange your own travel. You could come down from West Croydon to Dorking MAIN station and WALK 5 mins around the corner to DEEPDENE station. I see that there are trains from East Croydon to Dorking DEEPDENE, changing at Redhill at, 3.36pm and 4.17pm arriving about 37 mins later (there’s a little pub nearby going north under the bridge). (There are more trains back to Croydon from Dorking MAIN station. Get your map out and observe the two Dorking stations we are talking about, MAIN and DEEPDENE, which are about five mins walk from each other. I can pop by to MAIN to pick anyone up who is not sure about finding their way to DEEPDENE. I shall be coming to MAIN by train)

BRING CASH, CASH, CASHY McCASH!!!…and don’t wear your best brand new fleece (a COPSEr had their new fleece singed by an ember from the bonfire some years back!)

All the above is not as complicated as it may sound…just read it a few times and go to the bonfire website. Any questions, contact me (NOT by email on the day itself).

I recall the last time or so we did this bonfire we had a walk along the North Downs BEFOREHAND. We are not going to be that keen this time! But I might go visit the very newly opened Dorking Museum beforehand and cruise the charity shops of Dorking High Street. If anyone else is interested in doing this too, then contact me.

…And if anyone knows about the Cinders ceremony on the Sunday, I MIGHT be up for this as well, as I’ve never done this before. (Update: he is doing it! see tomorrow’s entry here) It would mean doing the same walk to Brockham again, maybe back a different way though.

I expect I’ve forgotten some crucial detail which will come to me while washing up or brushing my teeth tonight, so look out for follow-ons from this email during the week.

Paul Newbold, 07968 223589.