GRAYSHOTT Christmas Fair was a truly starry occasion, thanks to a return visit by its two most famous supporters – Dame Vanessa Redgrave and her film star daughter Joely Richardson – although they shunned the limelight.

The popular annual fundraising event at Grayshott Village Hall in aid of Haslemere and District Macmillan Cancer Support raised more than £5,000.

There were more than 40 stalls selling Christmas gifts, stocking fillers, seasonal food and drink, fashion and accessories, children’s toys, traditional decorations and crafts.

Seven local schools competed to create the best Christmas tree decorations and Grayshott Primary School was judged the winner.

“It was very successful,” branch committee chairman Jose Stead said. “It was wonderful that Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson came and they also shopped very well and left with lots of bags.

“We had an amazing Father Christmas in his grotto on the stage.

“The grotto was made by the husband of a committee member a few years ago and was beautifully decorated. It had a fireplace and book shelves.

“My daughter, who was an elf, said our Father Christmas was in great demand and appears at lots of big football matches.

“He was definitely my idea of how Father Christmas should look.”