Newton Village Hall was packed for the talk by farmer John Hoyles.

A FENLAND village hall celebrated the best attendance in its history when farmer John Hoyles gave a talk.

John Hoyles talked about his family history and meetings with royalty and politicians.

Eighty people packed into Newton Village Hall on Saturday and were embraced by Mr Hoyles as he spoke about farming and family history stretching back some 200 years.

His talk was interspersed with witty and personal anecdotes which covered his meetings with royalty and politicians.

Mr Hoyles also gave an explanation of the work being undertaken by the North Level Internal Drainage Board, of which he is chairman.

More than £340 was raised by the talk, towards the upkeep of the hall.

Rick Game, a member of the hall’s management committee, said: “The attendance was the best in the entire history of the hall (including when it was a school) with almost 80 people present.

“I’m sure the advance publicity your paper us gave was a real contribution to the fact that the evening was a complete sell out, with every seat taken.”