THOUSANDS gathered for a day to remember as local legend John Illsley wowed crowds at a New Forest festival.

The founding member and bass guitarist of Dire Straits took to the stage at Pylewell Park near Lymington of the Curious Arts Festival.

John, who runs the East End Arms close to the festival site, was joined by musical headliners Tom Odell and Izzy Bizu alongside literary luminaries and comedy legends.

The late addition to the line-up performed with the London Whoredogs on Saturday.

From life drawing, midnight bat walks and cocktail masterclasses to snail racing, poetry workshops, pop-up fine dining and even a cricket match, thousands of spectators braved the partly-wet conditions to enjoy a day of music.

They were also treated to comedy from Mock The Week’s Ed Byrne, Radio 4 regular Simon Evans, Paul Tonkinson, children’s favourite Howard Read, lightning-quick sketch group The Noise Next Door, Nat Luurtsema, Charlie Baker George Egg and Ivo Graham.

On the literature programme, an unparalleled list of this years’ most talked about and awarded authors performed for the masses, including legendary writer, film-maker and publisher Dave Eggers, bestseller Joanna Trollope, award winning journalist Lynn Barber and sex columnist and professional dominatrix Nichi Hodgson.

The fourth instalment of the Hampshire’s quirkiest two-day festival was held at the ancestral home of The Hon David and Melanie Roper-Curzon.