KING Henry VIII and a host of other men and women from the Tudor era turned out for an unusual fundraising fair.

As part of the 500th anniversary celebrations of St Michael’s Church, in Basingstoke, a team of volunteers put on a Tudor-themed fair at St Michael’s Church Cottage, at which stallholders and organisers dressed in Tudor garb.

The event, which featured live music, games and food, also marked Michaelmas – a medieval holy day in celebration of St Michael.

The Reverend Jo Stoker, the vicar at St Michael’s, in Church Street, who wore a purple Tudor dress, explained: “There has been a church here for 800 to 900 years, and there are still parts of it left, but there was a major rebuild 500 years ago.

“The town had become prosperous, partly in the wool and cloth trade, and it was quite a thing in those days to build a church.”

She added: “It’s been a good day and we’ve been lucky with the weather.”

Visitors to the fair were able to take a tour of the ringing chamber of the tower and to see how its bells are rung. Volunteers from Age Concern, who run a weekly café in the Church Cottage, also opened up shop to serve refreshments.

Ian Wheatley, a churchwarden who helped to organise the event, cut an imposing figure in orange, dressed as the infamous King Henry VIII.

He said: “Somebody thought it would be a good idea if we had Henry VIII and somehow that ended up being me!”