You can always rely on the good people of Petersfield to show their support.

Organisers of the town’s proceedings to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day printed 200 programmes as they were unsure about the turnout, given it was being held on a Thursday morning.

How wrong they were, with at least double that figure gathering around The Square and High Street as the town remembered a glorious moment in British, European and World history.

“We thought 200 service sheets would be enough,” said Rev Will Hughes to the crowd gathered on The Square.

“How glad I am we were so very wrong.”

People of all ages, from Herne Junior school pupils dressed up as evacuees, to dignitaries and decorated war veterans gathered in the town centre for an event that perfectly melded commemoration and celebration.

It was, in effect, a reverse of the annual Remembrance service as it began at 10am at the War Memorial with a sounding of The Last Post and an impeccable two-minute silence, only broken by a dog’s solitary bark.

A handful of wreaths were laid and The Kohima Epitaph and Exhortation were read, with parade leader and Petersfield RBL lynchpin Cllr Chris Paige hailing those who gave their tomorrows for our today.

The crowd was encouraged to remember why they had gathered by Rev Hughes, and to think about what was happening on the same day, 80 years beforehand.

“We remember the refugees, those forced to flee their homes,” he said, before adding,” but we also remember the street parties and the rejoicing that happened.”

Plenty of people who gathered for the event organised by the RBL, church and town council were old enough to remember the celebrations eight decades before. They included “Mr Petersfield” David Weeks, with the shiny-suited pensioner showing off black and white photographs of the Penns Road street party he joined.

Herne Junior pupils also got into the spirit by dressing up as wartime evacuees for the occasion.

Headteacher Sue Sayers said: “Once we knew we were invited to this commemoration the year leaders made the suggestion to go in costume and it was a goer.”

The pupils had a front row place during the proceedings in The Square, with town crier Faye Thompson doing a grand job of reading The Proclamation.

She said: “Today, as we come together to commemorate what became known as VE Day our thoughts turn to thanksgiving and remembrance of those millions that gave so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy today.”

The crowd were also reminded of Emily Rutter, who was killed in a bombing raid when a German pilot mistook Churcher’s College for an army base.

Enthusiastic renditions of I Vow to Thee My Country and The National Anthem followed, with Rev Hughes urging attendees into St Peter’s afterwards as the church had amassed more cake than ever before.

One suspects the town’s relieved residents may have enjoyed a celebratory slice 80 years before. Here’s to them and the bravery of their generation.