ONCE every two years, the most haunted village in England opens its doors to the public and more than 1,200 visitors joined the Bramshott Open Gardens weekend celebrations at the weekend.

The event, which raised in excess of £15,000, was officially opened by actor Hugh Bonneville, who apologised for not bringing along Paddington Bear, after the new film based on Michael Bond’s favourite bear’s huge success with children and adults alike.

The actor who also played Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey not only helped celebrate 32 years of the event, but also the 95th birthday of its founder and life-time president Tony Rudgard.

After getting married in 1953, Tony worked as an engineer for Shell in East Africa, including Mombassa, Kampala and Jakarta, before returning to the UK with his wife Jean and sons Nick and Stephen to settle in Bramshott 49 years ago.

In order to raise funds for St Mary’s Church, Tony launched the biennial Bramshott Open Gardens event 32 years ago.

And it has grown in popularity ever since with both participants as well as visitors.

Tony has also been Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council ‘s sports representative for many years, where he helped launch an annual sports day, and has received an MBE, from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, in 1983.

His birthday celebrations coincided with the 16th ever festival and was attended by many family members and friends.

Festival chairman Craig McGregor told The Herald: “We were delighted to have Hugh Bonneville opening the event with a highly entertaining speech, and he also took time giving autographs and talking to the children.

“The whole village was thrilled to welcome a record number of visitors to view our gardens on such a perfect summer weekend, which left a feelgood atmosphere right across the village.

“We were also pleased to share the weekend celebrations with Tony Rudgard, our life-time president, who turned 95, especially since he was the founder of the event 32 years ago in 1986.

“For the first time we added a plant stall to the attractions, which proved to be hugely successful, selling out and raising £1,000.

“We have yet to do the final count, but the event set an all-time high for fundraising and the money will be used for deserving local causes, including St Mary’s Church and Macmillan Cancer Care.”

Visitors could explore a range of 23 private gardens, from formal sweeping grandeur, Beverley Hills chic to delightful English country cottage appeal as well as the old home of renowned rose expert Hazel le Rougetel, featuring the village’s own rose.

After appearing in BBC’s Garden Rescue TV make-over, Shaun and Anne Wright’s garden attracted a lot of attention,.

St Mary’s Church hosted a flower festival which included the scroll of remembrance as well as a classical musical recital on Saturday afternoon

Local artists held an exhibition at Covers Farm Barn, which boast its own ghost.