The Mummers return
Drinkers outside Aldworth's Bell Inn were witness to the brutal slaying of a Turk in the village on Saturday.
They were in rowdy voice, cheering on as King George brandished his sword in mortal combat.
Then, in front of their very eyes, a doctor - many thought him a quack - miraculously resurrected the dead knight.
It was all good fun of course, as an age-old ritual was acted out by the five Aldworth Mummers on their 46th visit to the village.
Historically, Mummers - roving players, who by tradition remain anonymous - performed short morality plays in villages around the midwinter solstice, based loosely on the legend of St George and the dragon and show the struggle between good and evil, death and rebirth.
Earlier, villagers and pub regulars had gathered outside around the old well, illuminated in orange light (donated by Newbury Tools, to join in carols led by St Mary's Church associate minister Mike Penny, with the Christmas story told by the Rev Grant Fensome, who put his own Twirl on the narrative by incorporating a Bounty of confectionary puns, throwing said goodies out Twix-t the waiting crowd.
Warming mulled cider and mince pies were also in circulation, courtesy of The Bell.
A bucket collection was made for the Salvation Army.