A VILLAGE near Cirencester celebrated the coronation with cocktails, cake and jazz music. 

On Saturday (May 6) families and friends eagerly gathered at the village hall in Poulton to watch history unfold on a large screen.

Each table was decorated with a red and white gingham table cloth, a small posy of flowers and a union jack flag to mark the occasion. 

White, red and blue bunting adorned the walls. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Coronation screening in Poulton Village HallCoronation screening in Poulton Village Hall (Image: Mark Ranger)

Villagers happily munched their way through a selection of cakes and burgers and sipped on cups of tea.

This group of residents made the most of the bank holiday weekend and held an array of celebrations to mark the historic occasion. 

As well as the coronation screening on Saturday, there was a Sing For the King event at St Michael and All Angels Church followed by jazz music and cocktails in the playing fields on Friday night (May 5).

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Sing For The King service at St Michael and All Angels in PoultonSing For The King service at St Michael and All Angels in Poulton (Image: Mark Ranger)

Mark Ranger, aged 53, moved to Poulton four years ago and loves the sense of community in the village.

He recently found archive pictures of people celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in Poulton 70 years ago in 1953.

Mr Ranger wanted to replicate these pictures for this year's coronation so children in the village had something to look back on in the future.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Coronation celebrations in Poulton in 1953Coronation celebrations in Poulton in 1953 (Image: Mark Ranger)

He said: "I want to capture all the major events in the village so future generations have something to look back on in years to come.

"Events like these are a major part of village life.

"Poulton is the loveliest place I have ever lived in.

"There are a lot of traditionalists in this village and we are proud of that."

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Coronation screening in Poulton Village HallCoronation screening in Poulton Village Hall (Image: Mark Ranger)

Hilary Antingham, aged 61, wore union jack head boppers to the coronation screening and has lived in Poulton for seven and a half years.

She is the chairman of the trustees for the village hall and helped organised the events for the coronation.

Mrs Antingham said: "Events like this are important because they keep people in contact with each other.

"They provide a sociable environment where people in the village can get to know each other.

"Everybody is welcome here.

"When we first moved here it was one of the things we loved about this village and it was a great way to make friends

"I think the coronation is great. I am a bit of a patriot so I think it's good.

"It's something that can bring the community together."