magoo
New member
Really?? They came in here asking to print a picture of De Vecchi to stick on it giving me the impression it was pro-Falmer. If the article is true then next year they can shove it up their inbred arses!
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
Lewes Bonfire effigy tonight a Seagull!!!
- Thread starter Telboy
- Start date
Really?? They came in here asking to print a picture of De Vecchi to stick on it giving me the impression it was pro-Falmer. If the article is true then next year they can shove it up their inbred arses!
tedebear
Legal Alien
tis ok - I found it!
Lord Bracknell
On fire
The re-written version is this:-
Albion fans outraged by effigy
By Simon Barrett
A giant Albion seagull made as a protest against the Falmer stadium was burned at the Lewes bonfire celebrations.
The controversial papier-maché model was carried through the town by the Cliffe Bonfire Society before being blown up with fireworks.
Sources told The Argus the original figure was of a giant Seagull defecating on the South Downs - a jibe at the Government's approval of the Falmer stadium on land designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Previous effigies have seen the likes of hate figures Osama bin Laden and Condoleezza Rice go up in smoke.
But the model sparked infighting among the 1,000-strong society, many of whom are Albion supporters and who refused to march behind the creation.
The model was then "toned down" - and ended up sending out a rather mixed message.
It depicted a giant seagull with what appears to be an olive branch in its mouth, flying over a rough relief map of the South Downs. There was also a crossroads pointing to Lewes in one direction and the South Downs national park in another - with the words "downs" and "national" crossed out in red.
At the base of the model was a smuggler dressed in the Cliffe society's traditional black and white hoops, also wearing an Albion shirt and bobble hat.
But a blackboard at the back of the construction read "BHA 1, LDC 0" - a reference to the club's victory over Lewes District Council which opposed the stadium - accompanied by a caricature of council leader Ann De Vecchi.
An insider at the Cliffe Society, which is renowned as the most militant of the Lewes bonfire groups, said: "The tableau was originally a protest against the stadium but a lot of people were very unhappy about it. Our members sit on both sides of the debate but there is a lot of support for Falmer in the society.
"It was toned down but it ended up not really saying anything. To be honest, it was a bit of a mess."
Spectator Philip Harrison, 30, of Kemp Town, Brighton, said: "It is out of order. This issue has been done to death and was all over months ago when the Government said yes to the stadium.
"The effigies are supposed to make a political comment but this is just confusing people. It was obviously supposed to be anti-stadium, which really doesn't fit in with the atmosphere of the night. Most people I know in Lewes support the stadium.
That tableau is in bad taste and serves only to divide the crowd."
The Argus broke news of the controversial effigy on its website yesterday afternoon with a picture of the model at a Lewes industrial estate.
The story sparked debate on the website and the photograph left many scratching their heads as to the message behind the effigy.
Paul from Brighton, said: "It's a childish gesture but I'm not overly bothered.
"Brighton and Hove Albion won the battle that counted, so they are more than welcome to burn anything they want if it makes up for the disappointment of losing."
Another contributor, James, from Hove, said: "Could this not be the fans getting rid of the final signs of our struggle against Lewes? A symbol that Falmer will rise from the flames."
Towering effigies are central to the Lewes Bonfire celebrations.
They are constructed in secret throughout the year and are bigger than some of the town's old cottages.
The Cliffe Society was formed in 1853 and many of its traditions date back to those days, including torchlight processions and members dragging blazing tar barrels through the town.
The society celebrated its 150th anniversary with a giant skull and crossbones effigy in 2003.
Last year Cliffe burnt a model of a British Transport Police officer's head in protest at changes to the parade route, and the "enemy of Bonfire" effigy was a giant Condoleezza Rice.
In 2005, a 20ft model of then Home Secretary Charles Clarke was wheeled through the town before being blown up in protest at Government plans to introduce compulsory ID cards.
Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, said: "This is another confusing and bewildering display by our opponents.
"I'm rather bemused by it all, and I'm sure the noxious fumes given off by the seagull won't harm the environment in the slightest. Roll on three years when we will be in our new stadium."
Albion chief executive Martin Perry laughed off the news. No one from Lewes District Council was available for comment yesterday.
Lord Bracknell
On fire
tedebear
Legal Alien
Sounds like Cliffe BS have done exactly what their local council did, underestimate the support from LOCALS for their local football team.
magoo
New member
the people who were making the seagull. they use our work premises to store it for the day and finish it off.
Mendoza
NSC's Most Stalked
The Cliffe thing was soooo slow to start off,
All the other fireworks were in full swing, but then there were 2 bangers being thrown and sparklers being waved by cliffe.
Then the pope figure came out to do a reading which no-one could hear, and people started blowing bangers at him
nothing happened for AGES, then when the fireworks evetually got going they were really impressive, even if they took even longer to burn the pope and destroy the seagull
All the other fireworks were in full swing, but then there were 2 bangers being thrown and sparklers being waved by cliffe.
Then the pope figure came out to do a reading which no-one could hear, and people started blowing bangers at him
nothing happened for AGES, then when the fireworks evetually got going they were really impressive, even if they took even longer to burn the pope and destroy the seagull
Lady Bracknell
Handbag at Dawn
I've been a Cliffe member for more years than I care to remember! And yes, I takes pictures for them too. But I'm only an ordinary member of the society and have no idea what the tableau is going to be before it gets wheeled out just before the Grand Procession on the night. Neither do I know what goes on at Cliffe committee meetings. I'd also like to confirm Woodchip's point about any single element of a tableau not being evidence that the Society is agin it! Thus the Cliffe could easily have burnt a seagull in triumph about getting the stadium.
But......I don't think this was any sort of triumphant gesture. Or any sort of gesture at all, really.
Instead, it appeared to be a non-committal muddle with added "supportive" bits bolted on somewhat randomly. Certainly, the end result struck me as quite consistent with the "toning down" that's been reported but having never seen an "untoned" version I can't provide a very educated comment. It was not, however, up to the usually excellent standards of a Cliffe tableau and I remain baffled as to why it was ever created.
Just before the Grand Procession one of the tab team did say to me "But you like the back it it don't you"? referring to the blackboard with the score and a (rather good) caricature of A de V. But liking one tiny element of the whole confused structure doesn't make for a favourable overall opinion and when I asked someone else on the team what the tab was actually supposed to be he said, rather defensively, "Well it'll get people talking won't it?". Er, hello?
But......I don't think this was any sort of triumphant gesture. Or any sort of gesture at all, really.
Instead, it appeared to be a non-committal muddle with added "supportive" bits bolted on somewhat randomly. Certainly, the end result struck me as quite consistent with the "toning down" that's been reported but having never seen an "untoned" version I can't provide a very educated comment. It was not, however, up to the usually excellent standards of a Cliffe tableau and I remain baffled as to why it was ever created.
Just before the Grand Procession one of the tab team did say to me "But you like the back it it don't you"? referring to the blackboard with the score and a (rather good) caricature of A de V. But liking one tiny element of the whole confused structure doesn't make for a favourable overall opinion and when I asked someone else on the team what the tab was actually supposed to be he said, rather defensively, "Well it'll get people talking won't it?". Er, hello?
Lord Bracknell
On fire
Didn't you think it odd that the finishing touches required new stuff at the very last minute?
tedebear
Legal Alien
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,089
Is the tableau part of the "bridge-building" process we've now all supposedly signed up to?
Lady Bracknell
Handbag at Dawn
I don't think "bridge building" is on any Bonfire Society agenda and why should it be? There's absolutely no way that the Cliffe (as a Society) is pro or anti-Falmer which is why last night's tableau was such a surprise. Because tradition has always been to avoid getting caught up in local issues in a way that could leave the Society open to claims that they support or oppose a campaign that's outside Bonfire. Cliffe tabs have always been particularly sharp (and excellent as a result) because they've mainly tackled national or international issues.
So if anyone can make sense of this one, answers on a very small postcard would be welcome:
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,071
Talk of Bonfire Socieities 'Grand Processions' makes them sound like the Masons.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Roz - Very mixed messages on that. All very bizarre from the Cliffe tab crew. Is Gavin still captain, do you know?
Lady Bracknell
Handbag at Dawn
Very mixed indeed and not at all coherent! But definitely not Gavin's production because Kelvin is still tab captain.
magoo
New member
no they're always finishing it on the day every year, painting it and whatever.
Dandyman
In London village.
Next year's tab will be Lancing College, by the way...
Dandyman
In London village.
Certainly very mixed opinions in the Cliffe Society, I'd say.
Those that I spoke to just before last Christmas were aggressively anti-stadium, but spectacularly ignorant about the whole thing. Turned out just to be anti-football, as I got them to agree that if we were a rugby club they'd support it!
Glad to see some influential members managed to "muddle" their message and make them just look dumb!
Those that I spoke to just before last Christmas were aggressively anti-stadium, but spectacularly ignorant about the whole thing. Turned out just to be anti-football, as I got them to agree that if we were a rugby club they'd support it!
Glad to see some influential members managed to "muddle" their message and make them just look dumb!
Dandyman
In London village.
The sooner Simon takes over from Naylor the better.