He may have retired from his role as the man who kept Alton’s Palace Cinema alive for almost three decades, but Raj Jeyasingam is still keen to be involved in things that bring residents together.

The businessman has organised and sponsored the town’s first Thank You Day family event, with support from a group of likeminded individuals who want to give people the chance to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who makes Alton a great place to live.

This free event will take place in Anstey Park on Sunday between 10am and 4pm and is expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors over the course of the day. 

Raj said: “After another tough year, the event will help bring families and friends closer together to celebrate the strength and connections within the Alton community.

“Families and friends will be able to enjoy plenty of live music including a steel band, a funfair, football matches, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, a street magician and more than 50 stalls with lots of treats including arts and crafts.

“There will be plenty of the old family favourites such as a tug of war, sack race, egg and spoon race and many more 

“There will also be a glider, battlefield tank, American truck and police car on display, and, subject to there being no emergencies on the day, there will also be an opportunity to see an air ambulance helicopter up close.”

Representatives from Treloar’s will be present, while groups dealing with autism, dementia and child protection will give talks and answer questions about their important work. 

Any money raised through renting spaces to stall holders will be used to fund next year’s event, with the ambition for the Alton Thank You Day to become a regular annual part of the Alton calendar.