Miss Bonfire hopes for better weather next year

Jessica Baker, 13, of Wick, took over the role from last year’s head Chloe Roberts, 17, during an official handover, on Saturday afternoon, at the Maltravers Social Club, in Maltravers Road, Littlehampton – less than 
an hour before the Bonfire Night celebrations were cancelled.

Jessica, a year-nine student at The Littlehampton Academy, said: “It was a bit of a shock when they said it was cancelled.

“I had really been looking forward to taking part in it since I was told, in July.

“I wasn’t sorry for myself but everyone that had prepared for everything – the parades, the bonfire and the fireworks.”

Jessica has been an active member of the Littlehampton Bonfire Society since 2005, along with her brother Charlie, and parents Melanie and Tony.

She said she has ambitions of one day becoming a teacher.

At school, she is a business and enterprise ambassador. She also enjoys taking part in sports and performing arts events.

She loves to dance, sing and perform on stage. For the past nine years she has been a pupil at Dance Industry, in Sparks Court, Littlehampton, where she has been taking weekly classes in ballet, tap, modern, musical theatre, singing, street dance and drama.

Jessica is also an active member of the Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society and enjoys taking part in musicals and pantomimes with one of her highlights being a performance in the society’s production of Annie, in 2011.

Remembering when she discovered she was Miss Bonfire, Jessica said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out.

“I was coming home from school and there was a letter on the floor saying that I was Miss Bonfire.

“When I rang my dad I said: ‘Dad, dad, I’m Miss Bonfire’. He thought I said that the house was on fire!”

Jessica is now looking forward to supporting the society for the next year as Miss Bonfire.