A village memorial hall opened to remember the fallen of the First World War marked its centenary birthday with a swing dance party featuring music through the ages.

The Bramford War Memorial Victory Hall celebrated the landmark birthday with an event on Friday, March 8.

The night of celebration involved music through the ages, starting with the 1920s when the hall was first unveiled, along with swing dance lessons.

Guest of honour at the event was the High Sheriff of Suffolk Mark Pendlington, who followed the footsteps of his High Sheriff Major Sir Collingwood Hughes who first declared the hall open 100 years ago.

Ipswich Star: The memorial hall when first built in 1924.The memorial hall when first built in 1924. (Image: Caroline Wolton)

While now the hall is used by various community groups and businesses, including a church group on a Sunday morning, it was first set up to honour those lost in the First World War.

Some 300 men in Bramford – half of the village's male population - had served, with around a third either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner of war.

In March 1919, it was decided that funds would be raised for two memorials in the village to commemorate those who died – a mural tablet in the church with their names, and a memorial and victory hall.

A committee was set up and it took until 1921 to raise the £1,000 needed for the hall.

It was eventually completed at a cost of £1,300 in early 1924 and opened at a ceremony on March 7, 1924 by the High Sheriff of Suffolk.

Caroline Wolton, hall manager and parish councillor, said: “We had a music DJ with old music and people came dressed in 1940s outfits.

Ipswich Star: The hall opened for the first time on March 7, 1924 .The hall opened for the first time on March 7, 1924 . (Image: Caroline Wolton)

“One of the special guests was the High Sheriff of Suffolk, a very historical role. One hundred years ago, the hall was opened by the High Sheriff, so he followed in the footsteps of his predecessor which is very lovely.

"He presented us with a Certificate of Gratitude and Recognition, which was a wonderful honour.

“We were reflecting on all the people that have come through the hall over the years with the changes of music and fashion but it was a thank you to the community who use it as well as a celebration of the hall.

“It’s important to remember the history of the village and how the hall came to be, to remember the Great War, and it’s important to think about all those people that have come through the door since its beginning for the past hundred years and the journeys that they have taken.”