About Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society is a family-focused volunteer organisation representing the neighbouring villages of Isfield and Little Horsted in East Sussex.
The society was formed in 2008, making it one of the younger societies on the Bonfire circuit, although organised Bonfire activity in Isfield had already been taking place for decades before the society was established.
Today, Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society has around 100 members and is known for its green and red Smuggler stripes, colourful Persian costumes, distinctive village banner and family-friendly celebration on the last Friday of October.
Its annual event combines a torchlit procession with a Remembrance service, bonfire, effigies, tableaux and fireworks, while fundraising and social events keep the society active throughout the rest of the year.
From Village Fireworks to Bonfire Society
The origins of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society predate its formal creation.
Bonfire celebrations had been organised in the village for a number of years, initially through Little Horsted Primary School Parent Teacher and Friends Association.
Later, the tradition was continued by Paul Mundy, then landlord of the Halfway House, followed by Andy and Linda Brooks of the Laughing Fish pub in Isfield.
By 2008, however, the increasing cost and workload involved in staging the annual celebration were becoming difficult to manage.
At around the same time, local residents Chris Ashford and Beth Hazelwood, now Beth Hall, decided that the villages should have a proper Bonfire society of their own.
The result was the formation of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society in 2008.
The society was formally launched in January 2009 with just 19 members, many of whom remained involved years later.
Fundraising began almost immediately, with a race night organised for 15 March to start raising the money needed for the annual fireworks.
Green and Red Smugglers
Members of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society are easily recognised by their green and red striped Smuggler jumpers.
The stripes are worn with white trousers and black top hats, which members can personalise with additions including feathers, badges, masks and netting.
Some members also carry display swords as part of the costume.
The bright red and green combination gives Isfield & Little Horsted a distinctive appearance when members travel to celebrations elsewhere during the season.
Alongside the Smugglers, however, the society has another particularly colourful costume tradition.
The Persian Costume
Some members of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society wear costumes based around a Persian theme.
The society describes the purpose of the Persian costume as adding colour and sparkle to the procession, providing a vivid contrast to the red and green striped Smuggler dress.
Persian-inspired clothing gives members considerable freedom to create elaborate and colourful costumes, helping make the society particularly noticeable when processing after dark.
The society's published history confirms the Persian theme but does not provide a specific historical reason for why Persia was originally selected.
It is therefore best regarded as one of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society's distinctive costume traditions without attaching an undocumented local connection to its origins.
A Banner Full of Isfield History
One of the most interesting features of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society is its original banner.
When the society was established, a competition was held to design it. The winning design was created by Nic Ashford and deliberately incorporated recognisable elements of Isfield.
At its centre was a steam locomotive representing the village's Lavender Line heritage railway – but rather than ordinary steam emerging from the engine, it was shown spouting the flames of a bonfire.
Supporting the design were two laughing fish, representing the Laughing Fish pub, the society's headquarters.
It was a clever way of creating a banner that could only really belong to Isfield: the village railway, Bonfire and the society's headquarters were all combined into a single image.
For the society's 10th anniversary in 2018, a new banner was designed by one of its members and has since regularly appeared at the head of the procession.
The Laughing Fish
The Laughing Fish pub has played an important part in the development of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society.
Its former landlords helped keep the village Bonfire celebration going before the modern society was created, and the pub subsequently became the society's headquarters.
Its importance was recognised directly in the original society banner through the pair of laughing fish supporting the central design.
The pub's location is also particularly appropriate.
Immediately behind it is the field used for the annual Bonfire celebration, while nearby is the Lavender Line railway represented on the society's original banner.
Together, the Laughing Fish, railway and Bonfire field create a compact centre for much of the society's activity.
Bonfire on the Last Friday of October
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society traditionally holds its home celebration on the last Friday of October.
The choice of Friday is deliberate.
Most neighbouring societies hold their celebrations on Saturdays, so choosing Friday reduces clashes and makes it easier for visiting societies to support Isfield & Little Horsted. It also allows members to attend other celebrations themselves.
The date frequently falls during the school half-term, which suits the society's strongly family-oriented character.
For 2026, Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire takes place on Friday 30 October, with other societies already listing Isfield among their planned outmeetings.
The Torchlit Procession
The annual celebration centres on the field behind the Laughing Fish pub.
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society is joined by up to 15 visiting societies, bringing additional colours, costumes and torches into the village.
The torchlit procession through Isfield remains one of the fixed elements of the evening.
For a society with around 100 members, the arrival of numerous visiting societies transforms the scale of the event, filling the village with flaming torches before everyone returns towards the firesite.
The celebration is free to attend, although spectators are encouraged to donate towards the cost of staging the following year's event.
Remembrance Before the Fireworks
One particularly important element of Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire is the society's Remembrance service.
Before the fireworks begin, the celebration pauses for a service that includes the sounding of the Last Post.
The society describes both the torchlit procession and the Remembrance service as the two elements of its home celebration that remain unchanged.
That moment of reflection gives the evening an additional dimension, particularly when contrasted with the noise, colour and fireworks that follow.
Effigies, Tableaux and Fireworks
Despite being a relatively young and comparatively small society, Isfield & Little Horsted has developed a reputation for ambitious displays.
The society produces effigies and tableaux for its home celebration and aims to introduce something different each year.
Fireworks have become another important part of the society's identity.
Members have developed their own pyrotechnic experience and have worked in liaison with the Nevill Juvenile Bonfire Society pyrotechnics team to stage their own displays.
That willingness to build skills within the membership demonstrates how quickly the society has developed since its creation in 2008.
Isfest
The biggest fundraising event organised by Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society is Isfest, the society's own live music festival.
Isfest brings together local bands, food, drink and entertainment in the field close to the Laughing Fish and Lavender Line.
The festival has grown into an established part of the society's calendar and provides essential income towards staging Bonfire.
In 2026, the ninth Isfest takes place on Saturday 11 July, featuring local performers alongside locally sourced food, a beer tent and overnight camping.
Food includes locally produced burgers and sausages, while the Laughing Fish provides Thai food. The festival bar includes local cask ales and ciders alongside other drinks.
Under-18s can attend free of charge, reflecting the family focus that runs throughout the society.
Fundraising and Social Life
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society is particularly active outside the Bonfire season.
Alongside Isfest, members organise events including quiz nights, murder mystery evenings, discos and stalls at the village fete.
The society also operates its own 59 Club, in which members select numbers corresponding with the National Lottery bonus ball. Half of the weekly pot goes to the winning member and the other half helps fund the society.
But not everything has to be a fundraiser.
The society emphasises its social side, with members taking part in activities ranging from walks and picnics to bowling, go-karting, curling and trips to Plumpton Racecourse.
For a society representing two small villages, that social programme helps create the community of volunteers needed to keep the organisation going.
Supporting Good Causes
Fundraising is essential because Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society has to pay for its fireworks, insurance and the other costs associated with staging a free public celebration.
When sufficient money has been raised, however, the society also makes donations to charities and community organisations.
Past beneficiaries have included Help for Heroes, Community First Responders, Adult Cystic Fibrosis, Care for the Carers, Uckfield Lions, Sussex Air Ambulance and Riding for the Disabled.
That charitable giving has been part of the society's work despite the organisation itself being relatively young.
Membership
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society has grown from 19 founding members to around 100 members, ranging across several generations.
The society deliberately remains relatively small and family-focused.
Membership is intended for people who live locally or have an association with Isfield or Little Horsted, maintaining the organisation's connection with the two communities it represents.
Members can take part in the home celebration, represent the society at other processions and join the many social and fundraising activities held throughout the year.
There is also plenty of work behind the scenes, including effigy building, fundraising, organising Isfest and helping stage fireworks displays.
With members ranging in age from children to older residents, Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society has successfully created the multigenerational membership needed to carry a village tradition forward.
A Young Society with a Strong Village Identity
Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society may only have been formed in 2008, but it has quickly established traditions unmistakably connected with the villages it represents.
Its original banner brought together the Lavender Line steam railway, the flames of Bonfire and two laughing fish representing the society's headquarters. Its members process in distinctive red and green Smuggler stripes alongside colourful Persian costumes.
Its annual celebration deliberately occupies the last Friday in October, creating a family-friendly village event while avoiding clashes with many neighbouring societies.
And away from Bonfire, Isfest, quizzes, social events and charity fundraising keep the society active throughout the year.
What started with just 19 members in 2009 has developed into a society of around 100 people, with a reputation for its procession, effigies, tableaux and fireworks.
For one of the younger societies on the circuit, Isfield & Little Horsted Bonfire Society has already created a remarkable amount of tradition of its own.