MILLAND Rural Fair was blessed with glorious summer sunshine, attracting a 3,000 visitors to the biennial event.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the fair was officially opened by actor Hugh Bonneville, best known for starring as Lord Grantham in the massive TV hit Downton Abbey.

The village resident praised organisers for keeping the rural flavour going as well as the 150 volunteers involved in staging the event to make it another success story.

The main ring programme was managed by husband and wife team Matt and Mandy Cusack, featuring Petersfield Pony Club, an assortment of vintage tractors, the magnificent Hawkwalk Birds of Prey, and a selection of horses throughout history.

Members of the Butser IX Legions, all dressed in authentic Roamn costumes, re-inacted various battle scenes and organised some popular children games.

Displays by Reedland Retrievers, Meon Valley Beagles and Terrier Racing provided more fun for young and old, while the popular amateur dog show attracted many owners along with their pets.

Stalls included Petersfield District Bee Keepers, hand spun and hand knitted woolen goods by Anne Brookhurst, handprinted wall panels by Melissa Hillman, colourful handmade baskets by Chloe Bartron as well as a blacksmith display and traditional wood craft activities by members of the Hampshire Coppice Heritage.

Both the National Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust were present and brought animals along, while children and adults were able to get close to and hold reptiles, sheep, ferrets, Llamas, goats, chickens, geese, ducklings, and sit on donkeys.

Entertainment for children featured a traditional carousel, model trains, a bouncy castle, a climbing wall, mountain biking and pony rides.

Sasha Boam, from Bordon Village Hall, provided a shaded sanctuary overlooking the main ring as well as raising money for the hall, as did Milland’s St Luke’s church.

A varied choice of food offered something for every taste, from pulled pork, to burgers and hot dogs by Eat the Street as well as Thai cuisine by the team from the Hamilton Arms, Nepalese curries by the Gurkha Chautari, traditional Spanish paella and home baked cakes, teas and coffee.

A spokesman for the fair organisers told The Herald: “It has been the biggest and greatest fair ever – since Jeremy Hobson, had the idea in 1996.

“This year is the 20th anniversary of the event, which was originally created to support and finance the Milland News magazine and now also helps the commuity shop, the sports club and Hollycome School.

“We are grateful for Hugh Bonneville for opening and supporting the fair and for taking time out of his very busy schedule.

“It started as a true rural event, not a country fair – we have been developing this concept from the beginning and still have the stallholders support to keep it going.

“A team of 150 volunteers were needed to make the event happen and the team would like to say a big thank-you to Matt and Mandy Cusack for organising and running the ring programme, as well as Val Porter, the editor of Milland News, who has co-ordinated the whole event.”