Singer Grace Jones in awe of 'beautiful festival and beautiful people' at Wilderness

The singer brought the festival, held at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, to a rousing finale with a set credited by many as the best in the event's seven year history.

Coming on stage dressed in voodoo-style body paint and with a gold mask mounted on her head, the 69 year-old Jamaican star delighted fans with a lively set of funk, soul, reggae and rock, changing her costumes with every song and encouraging the crowd to sing along to extended versions of the Roxy Music classic Love is the Drug, a heartfelt Amazing Grace and hit Pull Up to the Bumper – during which she mounted the shoulders of an extremely surprised, though undeniably happy, security guard.

She ended with a rousing Slave to the Rhythm – a startling and utterly appropriate show to end a vintage Wilderness.

The show was the climax of four days of music, theatre, feasting and partying for the 30,000 people who descended on the idyllic grounds of the wooded deer park – which is part of the ancient Forest of Wychwood.

Also winning the approval of the crowds were indie-rock band Two Door Cinema Club, electronic artist Bonobo and singer Michael Kiwanuka.

But it was the more unusual features which marked the festival as the most enjoyable and best run in the country.

In keeping with its chic and elegant reputation, a sprinkling of celebrities dropped in over the weekend, to enjoy the music and join long table banquets.

An A-list selection of actors took part in Letters Live performances, reading out humorous and more serious correspondence. They included Benedict Cumberbatch, fellow Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, Tom Hollander, Fresh Meat actress Zawe Ashton, Mark Strong, Ian McShane, racehorse trainer Jonjo O'Neill, comedian Tony Robinson and comedy producer and presenter John Lloyd – who lives in nearby Great Tew.

Inspirational speaker: Russell Brand

Among the biggest names was Russell Brand, who lives near Henley, who delighted fans with his Letters Live performance and an earlier talk about his successful battle with addictions.

Other famous faces spotted at the event included Game of Thrones actor Kit Harrington, presenter Jonathan Ross and former Prime Minister David Cameron, who was seen drinking wine, smoking, enjoying music on the main stage, listening to a performance by Russell Brand and joining diners at a lavish banquet prepared by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes.

Revellers also joined banquets hosted by celebrity chefs Angela Hartnett, Yotam Ottolenghi and Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers.

Enjoying the atmosphere was Oxford chef Raymond Blanc. Mr Blanc has previously hosted his own banquets at the festival but insisted this time he was there to enjoy himself.

He said: "It's a lovely festival and I am here with some friends to have a look around and maybe have a glass of Champagne."

Lady Rotherwick was instrumental in bringing Wilderness to her family home of Cornbury Park, having previously hosted the more mainstream Cornbury Festival on the site.

Enjoying Sunday's events with friends she said: "It's been absolutely wonderful and we were even lucky with the weather with only a few showers and some lovely sunshine."

She listed Bonobo and Two Door Cinema Club's main stage performances as particular highlights and admitted to dancing the night away in a tented nightclub called The Hustle.

She added: "We've had the best time."

Festival spirit: Lady Rotherwick

Among the most elegant boltholes was a Champagne bar hosted by Veuve Clicquot, overlooking a lake. The venue hosted numerous performances from visual dance piece Kimatica.

Those enjoying a glass of the fizz house's signature Yellow Label bubbly were Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong and Tom Hollander, American model Arizona Muse, Lady Violet Manners -daughter of the Duke of Rutland, Whinnie Williams, Gizzi Erskine - chef and presenter of Channel 4's Cook Yourself Thin, and style bloggers Camille Charriere and Bonnie Rakhit.

More exclusive still was a backstage bar run by the team from the upmarket Aynhoe Park, near Bicester.

A number of stars and guests chose to stay at the lavish country house rather than rough it under canvas. A fleet of Rolls Royces ferried guests and artists – including Grace Jones – from the 17th century hall to its backstage bar.

With the last of the revellers leaving the site yesterday, planning has already begun for next year's event.

Organiser Rory Bett said it had been a fabulous festival, adding: "Every year we push the boundaries with our programming. This year has been the boldest and best yet, and we’re enormously proud, but our audience are, as always, the final judge.

"We look forward to the feedback and seeking to surprise and delight in our eighth edition in 2018."