All the pictures: Residents in Thorpe Abbotts, near Diss and Eye, come together to host successful Masters of the Air-inspired event with VE Day celebration theme

Residents in a village came together to help host a ‘hugely successful’ 1940s-inspired event with an added theme of VE Day celebrations.

The Thorpe Abbotts Masters of the Air-themed family event on Saturday saw vehicles, music, traditional games, and costumes from the 1940s take over the village hall.

The village is well-known for its significant role as the base for the 100th Bomb Group of the USAAF during World War Two.

Carol Hitchman, chairwoman of the Thorpe Abbotts Village Hall Committee, said the day was hugely successful.

“We learnt last time that we were attracting a particular clientele who were interested in the 1940s era so we built on that a lot.”

“We had the Station 366 American swing band and the 1940s dancers. Those two working together was absolutely brilliant to see.

“It was great to see people enjoy the history talks that were given and the whole area just looked stunning.

“Even the dustmen commented on how lovely it all looked when they picked the bins up.”

One highlight of the day was the presence of a 92-year-old woman called Betty Rampling who was evacuated to Thorpe Abbotts during the war. She returned for the event as a VIP guest and even visited the house she was evacuated to.

Carol said she was delighted as about 75 per cent of the village was involved with the event in some way whether it was baking cakes or helping out on the day.

“It was just incredible really to see that support for the village and the commitment of the community.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who was involved and the village hall committee that have worked for months on this project.

“Because we are such a small village it is a huge deal for us, so I’m thrilled it was a really lovely and happy day all-round.”

The event raised £1267.24 for the village hall which is more than 70 years old.

The money raised will help go towards either refurbishing the village hall or building a new one.