EDWARD the Confessor might not have known the village personally but it was his involvement in its future 950 years ago which was behind a historic celebration in Wheathampstead at the weekend.

The village had organised a packed weekend to celebrate the anniversary of Edward the Confessor giving the district of Wheathampstead to Westminster Abbey to be possessed by hereditary right 950 years ago.

The celebrations kicked off with a talent contest sponsored by Wheathampstead’s Top Hat Stage School and the Thai Cottage restaurant followed by a barn dance and Thai supper on Saturday evening.

On Sunday, schools and local organisations entered floats into a procession along the High Street taking the theme of 1060, Then and Now.

The parade was halted briefly at the Mill Quay Bridge to allow the Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Maxine Crawley, to unveil the new village sign designed by Harry Stebbings and set in a Haddonstone planter.

The afternoon was given over to a variety of stalls, rides and attractions plus main arena events including a most-like-your-dog competition and a performance by Kane Coxall, 11, of Beech Hyde School who won Saturday’s talent contest.

Wheathampstead councillor Annie Brewster said: “We would like to thank everyone from the village who worked so hard for our Charter celebrations.

“Village Day exceeded our expectations and we were most impressed with the herculean efforts from the barn dancers on one of the hottest nights of the year plus the exceptional standard of contestants performing so brilliantly in Wheathampstead’s Got Talent.”

The Mayor, who is also county councillor for the village, added: “I felt so proud. Wheathampstead Village Day is always a wonderful event but this was better than ever, particularly with the added excitement of the RAF Spitfire aerial display over the village at the end of the festivities.”