MONKS made merry as knights wooed their ladies to the sweet music from the minstrels gallery.A cast of characters that could have come straight from a Chaucer tale rubbed shoulders at a banquet celebrating 800 years of civic freedom.

MONKS made merry as knights wooed their ladies to the sweet music from the minstrels gallery.

A cast of characters that could have come straight from a Chaucer tale rubbed shoulders at a banquet celebrating 800 years of civic freedom. Guests donned period dress for the Charter Feast on Saturday at St Nicholas' Parish Church, Great Yarmouth.

The church provided a suitably splendid setting for the occasion marking the anniversary of the signing

of the town's charter by King John.

The lavish banquet was cooked and served by catering students from Great Yarmouth College. Dishes were based on medieval recipes, with diners tucking into chickens, a hog roast, roast ribs of beef, a selection of baked vegetables and soup.

Dessert was an old

English apple tart washed down with Blackfriars Brewery coriander and orange ale in commemorative goblets made by Ernie Childs of Great Yarmouth Potteries. Fashion students from the college made the long black habits worn by the team of waiting staff who all volunteered to work on the night.

Council leader Barry Coleman appeared as master of the guild, joking that plans were being made for an outer harbour way back in 1208.

Laura Goodman said: “The feast went really well and everyone made a real effort and dressed in some very eye-catching costumes. The students did amazingly well and they got a much deserved standing

ovation at the end of the evening.”

Floristry students at the college's horticulture centre created medieval-style flower arrangements using foliage of the time, roses and candles.