November 5th in Lewes - where Museli Munching and 'No Popery' come together

'Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason,
Should e'er be forgot.'
For 364 days a year Lewes is a quiet market town. There is still the prison, Harveys brewery and the Police HQ, and a huge number of good pubs for a place of its size. Although there has always been a radical political tradition - Tom Paine and CND -  there, Lewes has increasingly become a place where the middle class museli munching, knit your own socks from lentils brigade have decided to live.
Today is the day where we see that slightly smug bunch of wealthy liberals usurped by old Lewes in the form of Bonfire. It is the place which has the longest memory when it comes to Bonfire, and 'celebrates' what Guy Fawkes Night is really about. 
When the 'Archbishop' of Bonfire shouts,
'What shall we do with him?'
and the crowd replies,
'Burn him, burn him,'
they are referring to the Pope - alright the 16th century one - but yes it is an effigy of the Pope which gets burnt. Indeed the first Lewes bonfire I ever policed saw the local priest burnt. Father Hayes had delivered an anti-bonfire sermon, but the Bonfire Society claimed they only set fire to him because he had been arrested for drink driving. In fairness the effigy was drinking a glass of champagne and blowing into a breathalyser.
The 5th of November is not like the Lions Club or scouts bonfire held in the rest of the country. It is instead a celebration which has its roots in sectarian anti-catholicism. That's why the Rev'd Ian Paisley turned up in the early 80's, long before the 'Big Man' formed his Chuckle Brothers tribute act with Martin McGuinness. The Rev'd stood outside the Jireh Chapel and handed out 'no popery' pamphlets. 
The bonfire boys and girls probably appreciated this attention, but it did not stop them burning him the next year as an effigy marked 'Leafleteer.'
Lewes Town Council is now run by the Green Party but they have been silent (perhaps wisely) as far as I can gather about this anti-Catholic tradition. Maybe they are worried about going up in flames themselves?
Fortunately rain is forecast tonight so hopefully tonight's celebrations will pass off safely. The celebrations would be unlikely to survive a full health and safety inspection. Wheeling burning tar barrels down the steep streets, and chucking bangers into the crowd, does not exactly seem wise in a town full of ancient tudor buildings.
I fear that one year we will wake up on 6th November to news of a major disaster in Lewes. Hopefully that never comes to pass as I cannot see Bonfire Night in the county town of Sussex changing any time soon.