Champagne, mini Yorkshire puddings filled with roast beef and gravy, and an address by world famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough were just some of the treats on offer when the Friends of Richmond Park marked its golden anniversary.

The long running community group held a special event at Pembroke Lodge on Sunday as it looked back on 50 years of Richmond residents dedicating themselves to preserving and conserving the park and looked ahead to an exciting future.

The friends, which currently has 1,500 members, used the party as an opportunity to introduce supporters to new patrons Sir David, former Richmond Park MP Baroness Susan Kramer and children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

The group also launched its newly penned Richmond Park guidebook, which has a foreword by Sir David and explains the park’s history.