Skinningrove Bonfire History.

The first Bonfire was the result of a discussion between Skinningrove First Club and Village Arts, the rural community arts project in East Cleveland, who agreed to put on a Bonfire event in 1982. There was a procession with three giant puppets, a Fireworks budget of £25 and about 500 people turned up. Everybody had such a good time they all decided to come back the following year and after the second Bonfire the village formed its own independent Committee to run the event.

Every event has had a different theme, which is reflected in the differing Bonfire structures and site decorations. All the Bonfires have been ships, creatures, castles or buildings. Some themes come from the history of Skinningrove and its surrounding area; the North East Coast experienced Vikings, Smugglers, John Paul Jones and other Pirates, while Dracula refers specifically to Whitby. Skinningrove has its very own Merman story and Fiery Jack Corner, a former ironstone miner, is still remembered with some awe by many grandparents in the village. Other themes have been chosen by the children, reflecting whatever they were into that year; any theme with a "grove" to it reveals the village’s unique slant on popular culture.

In order the nineteen Bonfire themes have been 1982 Burning of The Houses Of Parliament. 1983 "John Paul Jones Is Coming !" 1984 The Merman Of Skinningrove. 1985 "Fiery Jack’s Dream" 1986 The Future. 1987 The Vikings. 1988 Year Of The Dragon. 1989 Smugglers. 1990 Nightmare On High Street. 1991 The Creation. 1992 Fishy Tales. 1993 Disneygrove. 1994 Circusgrove. 1995 The Flintstones. 1996 Noah’s Ark. 1997 Dracula. 1998 Nursery Rhymes. 1999 Pirates. 2000 The Beck.
In a variety of ways the Committee has managed to provide workshops appropriate to the theme every year. In different years the children have had their own processions, built site decorations, learned circus skills and performed music on their own junk instruments during the event. Workshops are held in the village and local schools, allowing many children who go to the Bonfire to contribute to the event.

Main Sponsors and Supporters: Loftus Town Council, Northern Arts, Cleveland Arts, Redcar&Cleveland District Council, National Lottery Charities Board, BBC Children In Need, British Steel, ICI, Boulby Potash LTD, Greggs, Dallas Carpets, Dawson Robinson’s Haulage, Village Arts, Tioxide UK Ltd., Palmer’s Scaffolding, ISG Scaffolding.

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