Village royalty has been celebrated in a community near Bordon on a day of singing, dancing and commemoration.

Residents came out in force on Sunday to enjoy the annual Oakhanger May Fayre on the village green.

The afternoon event had something for everyone with food and drink, numerous stalls and live music.

Maypole dancing followed the unveiling of Tilly Henderson as May Queen while many villagers dressed up in 1940s clothing to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

“We’ve been pleased to see that a lot of people from outside Oakhanger have come here today,” said May Fair committee member, Mandy Victor.

“It takes a lot of planning to do this and we actually start after Christmas, so we’re so happy it’s gone well.”

Watching the ceremony from a loftier position by the hall were guests of honour, Sheila and Steve Goater and David Chuter, who have collectively given well over a century of support to Oakhanger.

Sheila has been a key figure in Oakhanger life for 43 years and was an awarded an OBE for services to the community in the village in 2020. The current president of the Oakhanger village hall committee held various roles between 1982 and 2013 and managed the first extension of the building with her husband in the late 1990s.

Steve has served on the parish and parochial church council, was a founder member of the Oakhanger Preservation Society and organises the family sports event at the annual show.

Completing the trio is 96-year-old former Lancaster bomber radio fitter, David, who has lived in the village for more than 40 years and is responsible for the beautiful gardens at Oakhanger Cottage.

The trio watched the festivities unfold with burgers being flipped, beer being served and the Kings Shanty Men belting out some seafaring classics.