Christmas Bonfire Carols
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The Christmas "Bonfire Carols" event is run every year on a Friday before Christmas, with a collection in favour of the St. Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House hospices.
The Secretary books the current vicar of St. Peters, a year ahead, or an alternative if he/she is unavailable. Peter Hill, former chair of Sussex Mills Group, has acted as MC in the past. The publicity team advertises the event, to local people only, as the intention is to thank neighbours for their forbearance during the year.
The work team prepares a bonfire near the East hedge, after first cutting out a circle of turf and rolling it up to store safely under the hedge. They hang the strings of external coloured lights from the Long Barn guttering, and if another string is available, the gatehouse guttering. They hang floodlights out of a port side spout floor window of the mill. They will then wind to shine the floodlight towards the bonfire and they may put out floodlights on the field to light up the mill. If winds are strong from the wrong direction then they may need to use a different window to make sure the mill cannot be tail-winded.
Mince pies and hot chocolate are acquired for the kitchen. One or more bins, with liners, need to be put out near the kitchen for cups and napkins to be discarded in.
The carol sheets are currently stored by Jeff Best, who will check and print/staple extra copies, as required. Volunteer money collectors need to be recruited, along with kitchen volunteers, and a couple of volunteers to hand out and collect carol sheets. Hazel Marsden, as Treasurer, currently stores the collection buckets.
After the event, once all the wood has burnt to ash and everything cooled down, a magnet is used to remove any ironware that was attached to the wood used on the fire. The turfs are then carefully replaced. The floodlights and strings of coloured lights are taken down and stored.
For many years, Peter Hill conducted this event, until 2009 when heavy snow made it impossible to get over to Worthing. The local Findon vicar with responsibility for St. Peters was invited to officiate that year, and has been conducting ever since. Technically, the Carols event counts as a service, so the Trust does not require a Temporary Event Notice, and this is easier to argue if the conductor is from the church.
