IT was back to the 1940s for the residents of Askrigg, the fictional Darrowby in All Creatures Great and Small, when they gathered to pay tribute to the late Lynda Bellingham, star of the popular television series.

Drinks prices were pegged at five pence, the equivalent of the old shilling of the time, as the King’s Arm pub reverted for one night only to the Drovers Arms, favourite haunt of the vets and other characters, and still at the centre of village life.

With singing round the piano, and an array of costumes reminiscent of the era captured in James Herriot’s best-selling novels on which the BBC series was based, it was a night of fun, laughter - and fundraising. A total of nearly £3,500 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“We wanted to capture the spirit of the time, and also of Lynda herself, as well as raising money for this fantastic charity” said King’s Arms manager, Helen Mackay, who remembers as a small child in the 1980s visiting the village from her home in nearby Carperby to watch the filming.

“It was so exciting to see and I’m sure I made a nuisance of myself a lot of the time, but it was great fun,” she says.

Lynda Bellingham played Helen Herriot, wife of vet, James - Christopher Timothy - in the second series which ran from the late ‘80s to early ‘90s. Christopher sent a series of photographs taken during the filming and signed by Lynda, Robert Hardy and himself, which were auctioned along with gifts of food, accommodation and memorabilia from local businesses.

“Every bit of food and drink was donated, as well as the auction and raffle prizes. People have been overwhelmingly generous,” said Helen.