Morris dancers, bows and arrows, large sponge cakes and people dressed in Victorian clothing - you could be forgiven for thinking Chingford Park was an old English village yesterday.
Even the weather played its part, by contributing a constant spritz of drizzle, Alzheimers Society Otago Inc manager Julie Butler said.
It was all for the Alzheimers Society's first Traditional English Village Fete, which aimed to raise community awareness of Alzheimers and dementia.
''A lot of people associate Alzheimers and dementia with memories, so we wanted to put on an event that looked at things in the past, to try and get some synergy around memory and things gone by,'' she said.
''We came up with the Olde English Village Fete theme, partly because some of us on the organising committee probably watch too much Midsomer Murders on TV.''
Mrs Butler said the interest and enthusiasm from the community had been ''incredible'', particularly that from the Dunedin archery club, the Medieval Society, Rotarians in Victorian costume serving Devonshire teas, and student volunteers.
Several hundred people attended.
She said it was a family day, because Alzheimers and dementia affected the family as a whole.
''There's been some lessons that we've learned today, and things we'll do different next time.
''It will be bigger and better.
''All going well, this event will be held again on a two-yearly basis.''
