THE final touches are being put to a summer ball at Chawton House in aid of the village school.

Run by the governors and Parent Teacher Association at Chawton Primary School, the ball is being held on Saturday with a Great Gatsby theme.

It will be held in a marquee in the grounds of the historic house which was once home to Edward Knight, the brother of Jane Austen.

Appropriately, the dress code is black tie and cocktail dresses, with dancing to live music courtesy of The Cheers until “carriages at midnight”.

Emma McBriarty, spokesman for the organising committee, said: “Having missed a year last year due to the 200th celebrations of Jane Austen’s death, guests are looking forward to the 2018 ball with anticipation.

“As with previous years, all proceeds go directly to the school. The past two balls have raised more than £4,000 for IT equipment.”

The ball starts at 8pm with welcome drinks and photographs on the lawn before moving into the marquee, kindly loaned by the Jane Austen’s Society, for guests to have an al fresco dining experience with a hamper supper they bring along themselves.

Tickets, priced £30 each or £300 per table, are selling fast and can be bought via e-mail at [email protected] or via facebook.com/chawtonball.

Reflects Ms McBriarty: “As F Scott Fitzgerald said: “...I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”