Historical characters ranging from William of Orange to Tsar Peter the Great of Russia will be represented in a colourful procession marking the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Along with the exotic dancer Isadora Duncan and William Walsh, the Speaker of the first Queensland Parliament, they all lived or stayed at Milton, near Didcot.

The pageant on Sunday, June 3, will culminate in an equally colourful Jubilee service, at St Blaise Church.

The rector, the Rev Colin Patching, thought of the idea. He will dress as one of his predecessors, the Rev James Warner, who founded the former St Blaise School in 1802.

It was later merged to become what is now Milton Primary School.

Mr Patching was inspecting the county archives before Christmas when he discovered that in medieval times the St Blaise feast day, February 3, used to be one of the few national public holidays. For centuries, it was marked by grand processions attended by the Royal Family.

Mr Patching said: "We're using the procession to tell Milton's history dating back to the Anglo Saxon King Edwy in the first century."

All the village organisations are taking part in the procession -- along with horses and a decorated float -- which will set off from Milton Manor at 2.30pm. The parade will wind through Milton to the church for a service at 3.30pm.

The service will be followed by an outdoor celebration at the Visto Field with a pig roast and music by Abbey Brass Band.

A 1950s-style street party for villagers will be held along the drive outside the gates of Milton Manor on Monday, June 3, starting at noon. People are asked to bring food, but some chairs will be provided. The manor will be open free to residents during the day, with guided tours at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

At 10.15pm, villagers from Milton will join villagers from Steventon for the lighting of a bonfire beacon at Deanes Hill in Steventon.