Bangers and mash and a large helping of the Bulldog Spirit added up to an evening of pure nostalgia organised by the Titchfield Bonfire Boys in the village’s Parish Rooms.

Community singing conjured up the old days in Blighty as a “spiv’’ sidled up to guests and tried to sell a pair of nylons, and a girl from the Land Army joined soldiers and sailors in wartime songs such as, It’s a long Way to Tipperary, My Old Man Said Follow the Van and of course, Rule Brittania.

There were partygoers in military uniforms, the country clothes of farm labourers and many ladies wore wrap-over aprons and snoods, a favourite wartime fashion, around their hair.

Snoods became popular with women during the Second World War when the government placed strict rations on the amount of material used in clothing. While headgear was not rationed, snoods were favoured, along with turbans and headscarves, to show commitment to the war effort.

Union Jacks and posters from the war decorated the room, music was provided by pianist, John Glasspool, a retired Daily Echo journalist, and the singing was led by Jayne McBride from the Titchfield Panto Players.

Between songs, master of ceremonies, Julian Gibbs, provided historical tales, wartime sounds and music from the era on a new-fangled phonograph machine.

The idea for the event came after a discovery of an old black and white photograph showing local Titchfield people enjoying a get-together back in the 1940s, probably close to the end, or just after, the Second World War.

It was a real community occasion as 100 people recreated the scene from more than 60 years ago and “kept the home fires burning’’ with a meal of bangers and mash, with the Co-op donating the sausages and potatoes, and onions given by Rachel McGuire and Richard Collins.

The evening raised about £1,000 for village funds to support Titchfield Carnival, which takes place on October, 25 this year.

The Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society was formed in the 1880s, and since then the group has been the driving force behind one of the most successful annual carnivals in the country. Besides raising money for the carnival, the society has also raised many thousands of pounds for local charities, organisations and good causes.