DOCKENFIELD Day celebrated its 35th birthday on the first weekend of June and who better to open the afternoon’s events than Diana Parratt and Jean Elkins, who helped organise the very first Dockenfield Day in 1981.

People turned out in force to celebrate the milestone and helped by some warm weather, all were able to enjoy the day’s blend of traditional activities.

These included the human fruit machine, coconut shy, pole joust and the ever-popular dog show, as well as more modern games like formula pig.

As a nod to the era of the original fete, the theme of 1980s fancy dress offered an opportunity for outfits old and new to appear from the wardrobe.

There was no shortage of participants for the children’s games either, which were topped off by the traditional tug-of-war with the girls winning the match against the boys and Dockenfield men and women beating the non-villagers.

None of this would have happened however, without the efforts of the committee and the huge contribution of the volunteers on the day itself. The team would like to say a “big thank you” to everyone that helped make the day a success.