Scores of visitors enjoyed the annual Buriton exhibition, including families who had moved away from the village to other parts of the country.

And there were emotional reunions as those who had not seen each other for more than forty years recognised old friends at the ’Bygone Buriton’ event in the village hall on Saturday, September 24.

Former village resident Michael Harfield travelled more than 200 miles from North Wales to be there, and he was especially delighted to meet two long-lost friends, Robert Baker and Maryann Carter.

They had all taken part in the village celebration of the Queens’ coronation in 1953.

He said: “We were at the village school together, and asked to plant a tree to mark the coronation. My uncle Leon was the forester in charge that day.”

Maryann added: “I was chosen because I was the youngest child at the school.”

Robert Baker, now living in Rustington in West Sussex, said: “It was a very special day, and it is great to meet so many old friends again, and see hundreds of old photographs of village life.”

There was also a lot of interest in a display and presentation about the First World War, 1914 to 1918, and the local men who had joined the armed forces during it.

War time figures show that out of a village population of fewer than 800, almost 200 men joined the armed services forces throughout the conflict.

Buriton Heritage Bank spokesman Doug Jones said: “Information has been collected on about 140 of them, and the presentation explained their roles in the war.

“We want to find out more about village life during the war, and more about the parishioners who took part.

“It is hoped there may still be more letters, diaries and photographs that could help, and it is hoped that more people will contact us with their recollections, or with historical information.”

Established in 2001, the heritage bank is co-ordinated by Buriton Village Association, and as well as cataloguing the village’s history, it has produced a dozen books about the area.

Those with historical information about the parish can contact Doug Jones on 01730 231326 or via the website: www.buriton.org.uk