Littlehampton Bonfire lights up the town thanks to huge volunteer effort
Littlehampton was glowing in more ways than one on 25 October as the Littlehampton Bonfire Society delivered another spectacular bonfire and fireworks display — the largest free-to-attend event of its kind in the area.
Thousands of residents lined the streets for the annual celebration, which has become a cherished fixture in the town’s calendar. But behind the flames and fireworks lies a huge community effort, powered entirely by volunteers.
Among those helping to keep the evening running safely was WBro Stephen Ward, a volunteer marshal and one of several Freemasons supporting this year’s event. Ward was part of a wider team of hundreds of volunteers, whose combined effort ensures the bonfire tradition continues to thrive.
The scale of the work involved each year is impressive. Volunteers manually position around 550 crowd barriers, all of which are removed again within 24 hours. More than 2,000 torches are assembled for the torchlit procession, and many volunteers walk tens of kilometres over the course of the day as they assist with logistics, stewarding, and crowd management.
Members of the Bonfire Society also lend their support to other bonfire events across the region, maintaining close ties with neighbouring societies and helping to sustain this unique Sussex tradition.
Despite the growing costs of staging such a large event, the Littlehampton Bonfire remains completely free, relying entirely on public donations collected on the night. Organisers say these contributions are crucial if the display is to continue in future years.
For more information about Freemasonry in West Sussex, visit www.wgsm.co.uk.