COMBERBACH Fete won lavish praise from Lord and Lady Ashbrook following Saturday’s community celebrations.

Lord and Lady Ashbrook were invited to open the fete and present the awards.

“Lord Ashbrook said he regretted never having come to the fete before, and commented on how professionally it was run,” said fete committee chairman Mark Williams.

“Lady Ashbrook remarked on the perfect etiquette, and the comments from Lord and Lady Ashbrook are a compliment to all the members of the fete committee.

“It was an absolutely superb fete, which was attended by about 1,200 people, and we will be back again next year on the last Saturday in June.”

Rose Queen Grace Austin and her retinue paraded in the arena before the fete was opened.

The theme was country life, and Reverend Alec Brown offered a few words in memory of those who lost their lives in The First World War and the D-Day Landings.

This was followed by a minute’s applause and the Dam Busters theme performed by the Bostock Brass Band.

A packed programme of events included the Earl of Stamford Morris, My School of Performing Arts, Bostock Brass Band and Hartford Gymnastics.

The retinue included rose princess Mollie Ashford, attendants Rebecca Foster, Mae Ashford, Abbie Blackmore and Gwendolyne Cooper, and flower girls Emma Barnes, Tirion Cooper, Isabel Matzen, Grace Wilson, Lauren Chesworth, Caitlin Conway, Imogen Hargraves and Stephanie Williams.