A barn in Old Alresford built 600 years ago was the scene of much loud music, feasting and dancing as fundraisers from Home-Start Winchester staged a nostalgic night of music and good food to raise cash for the charity’s coffers.

Special guests included the mayor of Winchester, Cllr Derek Green, the mayoress and their son and grandson, who dined under swathes of bunting and fairy lights.

The Kasbah Swing Band supplied the music, with big band tunes and much-loved standards given the big band sound.

Sole Butchers prepared a hog roast, and this was followed by home-made chocolate roulade, fresh fruit salad and cheesecake made by Home-Start volunteers. After the meal guests were quickly on their feet and getting into the swing.

Home-Start’s event organiser Chrissie Barlow said: “We are so grateful to our patron, Alison Wakeham, for letting us use her wonderful old barn at Pinglestone, and to our sponsor Bill Rawles Classic Cars for making the night possible. The Bill Rawles racing team supplied a 290bhp 1961 Austin Healey 3000 Mk1 racing car and the boys couldn’t resist taking a look under the bonnet.”

Home-Start Winchester chairman Barry Page praised the events team’s hard work and Lady Wakeham declared she “would be happy to do it all again” in 2023.