PINNIES, headscarves and vintage summer dresses were the name of the game at this year’s Colden Common summer fete.

Organised by the Colden Common Community Association, the day’s theme was 1914-2014 to commemorate the start of the First World War which saw all manner of polkadot, frilly aprons and decorative bunting.

The guest speaker for the day was D-Day veteran, 91-year-old Jim Bramley, who landed on Juno Beach. He served as a Lance-Corporal with the Royal Army Service Corps and was a dispatch rider carrying messages and reports to and from the beaches to various units.

Mr Bramley, a local resident, recently returned to Normandy with his wife Iris where he first landed on June 6 1944.

Together they judged the stalls and awarded the winner of the Daphne Bran cup to the “womanned” stall runners Sarah Banks, Sue Beck, Marion Stephen, Carole Allen, Pat Badham, Margaret Davis and Sue Fitzpatrick.

Organiser Maureen Rees said: “Despite the rain it all went really well and I’m really grateful to the volunteers who offered to help out. Even the entertainers managed to struggle through their bits and pieces and the band was fantastic.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who gave a helping hand.”

Despite the sudden downpour the Thornden Community Wind Band played well into the afternoon while the Spirit Baton Twirlers and cast from the Firefly Theatre entertained the villagers.

Local singer, Leiah Ikafa, led a sing-a-long with some wartime classics.