Residents enjoyed a good old fashioned Cockney knees up at this year’s Rainham Village May Day Fayre.

Romford Recorder: Royal Liberty DancersRoyal Liberty Dancers (Image: Archant)

Hundreds had fun in the sun at the event on Monday May 6 from 10am to 4pm.

Lynn Fuller, the chairman of the Rainham Association for Village Events (RAVE), which organised the event said: “It was absolutely buzzing.

“We had people in the streets and all around just having lots of fun. A lot of people have said that this was the best one in years.”

This year’s fayre had a Cockney theme and Pearly Kings and Queens were on hand to get people in the party spirit.

Other attendees included Havering Mayor Cllr Lynden Thorpe and historian Richard Smith, who was promoting his latest book called Hornchurch Streets of Heroes.

Lynn said: “Everyone loved the East End element.

“We had the Pearly Kings and Queens singing traditional Cockney and everyone just joined in.”

She added: “A lot of the people from East London moved to places like Rainham after the war, so I thought it was nice that we could remember our East End roots.”

Visitors were also treated to traditional entertainment from the Royal Liberty Morris Dancers, stilt walkers and Jest the Jester.

Youngsters from Thunder Drama group kept the crowds entertained with a number of performances.

Other highlights included a performance of Little Shop of Horrors from students from Chafford School in Lambs Lane South.

Rainham Councillor Jeff Tucker (Independent Local Residents Group) said: “There was a big turn out for this year’s fayre.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day, the weather was nice and everyone had fun.”

Lyn said: “I would like to thank everyone that made the day such a success and all the people who attended.”