THE high street in Royal Wootton Bassett became a scene from the 1950s.

Mark Collins who owns The Tailors Shop in the town wanted to put on the Living History Day to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War and also the Second World War and the Korean War.

He spent three years as a senior aircraftman for the Royal Airforce in the 80s and now his job sees him working with military from all over the world.

Mark said: “The day couldn’t have gone any better.

“It’s the busiest I have ever seen the high street on a Saturday and everyone got involved.

“The best part was seeing elderly people’s nostalgia throughout the day.”

He added: “It’s become a rare thing to see events held for them and it was beautiful to see them reminiscing as well as people of all ages coming together.”

There were some special guests invited on the day. A group of Korean War veterans attended, some of whom were in their 90s.

Mark knows them fairly well from his time tailoring their clothes, this is a day he wanted to share and include with them.

Malcolm Kidd was at the event and said: “It was a fantastic display. You really felt that you were in a different period of time.

“Even the setting of the town helped play its part in giving it an authentic feeling.

“I would more than welcome having something like this put on every year and I am sure many others feel the same.

“It was quite simply brilliant.”

There were plenty of exhibitions on show, ranging from military vehicles such as Scout cars and Jeeps to artillery, guns and trucks, which were kindly supplied by The Garrison Official, which specialises in war re-enactment.

Other activities on the day included local dance group, Swing Out Swindon, performing and getting members of the public up for a dance.

Mark said: “The tone of that era was captured perfectly.”

This was the second time he has organised a history day with the first one on the medieval age in 2015.

Now he now wants to make the event annual.

The Living History Day started at 9am and finished around 4pm and was free to attend.

There were 25 attendees who wore their armed forces uniform to celebrate the event.