Dinton Bonfire Boys Website

About Us

The Dinton Bonfire Boys is a totally not-for-profit organisation of local people who raise money for charitable causes and provide a night of fun that has been held for over 100 years.

Our History

The earliest record of the Dinton Bonfire Boys is this photograph of the banner from 1890:

The celebration of the defeat of the Gunpowder Plot, which until 1859 was compulsory in England, took the form of a procession which gathered at the railway station. Coincidently, this was also the location of the original Wyndham Arms pub.

Everyone would be dressed in costume, mainly as clowns and would walk first to Dinton House (now known as Philipps House in Dinton Park) and then to Hurdcott House between Dinton and Barford St Martin. At both houses, refreshments were served. The procession then walked back to the school grounds to light a massive bonfire and let off fireworks and crackers. Large quantities of beer and cider were consumed!

Even then, when times were much harder, there was a charitable element to the proceedings. Money raised from the collecting boxes was donated to Salisbury Infirmary.

The society was very active in the early part of the 20th century but from around 1930 until 1945 the ‘Boys’ appear to have been largely dormant as no record of their activities exists. Given the economic and political situation during those years it is not surprising.

The current group was formed in 1981 when the village hall committee decided it was not viable to continue with a firework display, which had been held in the field opposite the old village hall. This small village event was transformed in 1990, in what was deemed the centenary year, and moved into the Park, where it became the well supported event that it is today and since that time has managed to generate funds for charity. About 2000 people are entertained every year.

A banner has always been a part of the society. The original from 1890 is long lost but the next one from 1912 was found in the early 1980’s in a poor condition and put into safe storage. It was refurbished in 2005 with a Heritage lottery grant and is on display in the village hall. The current group also had a banner made, which replicates the previous banners but contains the dates 1890 and 1981.

The tradition of charitable giving continues. Not only do we support local good causes, but we also try to help the wider community such as the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. To date, 2008, we have donated about £20,000