THE good folk of Wallingford knew how to party. A menu for the Municipal Dinner more than 100 years ago has come to light.

The dinner, hosted by the Mayor, James Wilder, took place at the Lamb Hotel on Saturday, November 9, 1907.

Those lucky enough to attend sat down to a menu of soup julienne, turbot and shrimp sauce, mutton and beef, pheasant and French salad, trifles, jellies, fruit tarts and stewed pears and cream and cheese straws.

It is not clear how much they – or the ratepayers – had to pay for the meal. But they paid some sort of price later when they had sit through no fewer than 13 toasts and responses. It is not recorded how many guests fell asleep!

A copy of the menu was found by John Corneby, of Swaythling, Southampton, in the belongings of his grandfather, Mr GFW Corneby.

Among other items was a business card for Mr Corneby senior, a boat builder at Wallingford Bridge. He had boats to let and offered to “house, repair, varnish and cart” craft.

According to the card, his landing stage at the bridge was “the most convenient for hotels, the post and telegraph office and the GWR station”.