RAF personnel including civilians volunteered their time to help out with preparations and serving a three course lunch including turkey and all the trimmings whilst Dan Blasor, who owns Blaze Disco and Karaoke made sure the crowd had a good time by singing jazz renditions and playing classic songs from Sinatra and The Beatles.

He also conducted the bingo game with the help of The Bucks Herald acting editor, Peter Davidson and announced the winning tickets for the raffle.

Dan has been a regular entertainer at the Halton event and became involved in the party six years ago. He said: "It is absolutely great to be involved with this event giving something back. The RAF always out on such an amazing spread and there's always so many bodies to serve it."

Some of the 100 pensioners, a mixture of new and old faces at the party who turned up on their own, with friends or partners who enjoyed the free party at the Henderson Mess even linked together with the RAF and Bucks Herald staff to do the congo round the room.

Sylvia Mitchell, 72 and her husband Jim, 74 from Wendover said the food was very nice and they were enjoying themselves.

Mr Mitchell commented on the familiar surroundings as he was stationed at Halton in 1951 but had never been to the party before. The couple said that although they are Bucks Herald readers they kept missing the voucher but this year their daughter cut it out for them.

It was certainly the place to make friends as Daphne Johnston, 72 and Hannah Cookson, 90 from Aylesbury found out. They had visited the year before last and were pleased to be back again and to have made friends with each other as they do not have husbands anymore.

Ms Cookson said: "I look forward to the event with my fingers crossed from when my token is sent off."

Partner of Michael Anthony estate agents, Michael Donnachie commented that they have been sponsoring the event for many years although it gets their name known it is the pleasure of giving which keeps them supporting the community.

Station commander at RAF Halton, Richard Gammage added: "We are very much part of the community and we greatly welcome the opportunity to do our little bit at this festive time."