GLOUCESTER GOES RETRO AND THE 1940's RE-ENACTORS!

It's not often that a city centre is the stage for a #1940's (and multi period) event!  But on the 29th and 30th august 2015 Gloucester was transformed into a retro and vintage themed event. 

Westgate Street was the scene for the #HomeFront #re-enactors and also for #WWII soldiers with the Gloster 2nd Battalion providing a street display.

With a vintage market and dancing display at Kings Square, vintage vehicles lining the streets, and costumed re-enactors from the 1900's through to the 1980's, this was an interesting and enjoyable city event!

TELFORD STEAM RAILWAY 1940's THEMED DAY 2015

The re-enactors stepped into character throughout the day creating a light-hearted wartime theme at #TelfordSteamRailway

and the WVS, Women's Voluntary Service were ready to provide cups of tea for the visitors!

 

There was plenty of excitement and espionage with a search for  german spies on the steam train, pursued by the military police, occupied territory at Lawley Station and French Resistance and Allied troops at Horsehay and Dawley Station!

There were also #vintage stalls, and the sounds of the #Blitz and #wartime music, radio and entertainment from Kevin Mack. This  #1940s Shropshire venue was a great day out, and visitors to this event told me how much they enjoyed the event!    

SPETCHLEY PARK MULTI PERIOD EVENT 2015

Used by the USAAF Air Force during WWII as a recovery centre for pilots, Spetchley Park was the venue for a multi period re-enactment two day event, last weekend.

 Built in 1811 this lovely Georgian mansion house, parkland and lake brought something very different to the #1940sevents calendar! We were transported through history with Roman, Medieval, American and English Civil War, Edwardian and Victorian re-enactors (and more) all providing stunning costumes, re-enactments and displays.

The 1940s were also represented and there was fun and laughter with a  display of "swing" dancing from the Forever 40s re-enactment Group to the sounds of Glen Miller which put us all "in the mood."

In the stable yard an RAF Operations room re-enacted the sights and sounds of wartime Britain and a nearby field was the site for many WWII displays.

 

Re-enactors from all time periods mingled and chatted and made this an interesting and a great experience!  I'm already looking forward to next years event at #SpetchleyPark!

Source
http://www.visitworcestershire.org/about Worcestershire/Worcester-Spetchley-Park-Gardens/

DESBOROUGH 40s DAY - SEPTEMBER 19th 2015

The town of Desborough is holding a 40s day on the 19th September 2015 and the High Street is the venue for WWII Britain!  Pictured below are #Homefront re-enactors from last years event.

There's music and dancing, a parade of military vehicles, a Vintage fair and Homemade Craft event at the Ritz and lots more! Military vehicle drivers are being offered free tea and coffee and also soup and rolls for lunch.

The venue for #Desborough40s Day is Northamptonshire NN14 2RS in the East Midlands and for further information about re-enactors with vehicles contact 07747 107760, and for venue details email events@ketteringvenues.co.uk.   

PEAK RAIL 1940s WEEKEND 2015

#PeakRail Steam and Diesel Railway is always a popular and scenic #1940s event in the re-enactors calendar.  With Chatsworth House nearby (where Pride and Prejudice was filmed) visitors could also enjoy journeying on the Steam trains through the picturesque Derbyshire countryside.

Jeeps and other military vehicles carrying troops arrived at Rowsley South Station for a battle re-enactment with Russian, American, German and Volksturm (Home Guard) Forces and there was also plenty of entertainment, vintage shopping opportunities, displays and civilian and military vehicles to see.

 Costumed #WWII and #HomeFront Re-enactors turned the clocks back to wartime Britain and helped make this event, a weekend to remember!

1940's RE-ENACTORS REQUIRED FOR AYSCOUGHFEE HALL MUSEUM AND GARDENS!

Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and Gardens are looking for costumed #WWIIre-enactors, historical vehicles, displays and also #vintagestalls for their 1940's and Vintage Weekend on the 15 and 16th August 2015.

They are located at Spalding, Lincolnshire PE11 2RA. Also, you are welcome to contact them if you would like to be involved with this event in any way. You can email Julia :Museum@sholland.gov.uk or telephone 01775 764555 or you can visit their website www.ayscoughfee.org for more details.

1940s WEEKEND AT THE BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM 2015

Visitors told me that they enjoyed Saturday night so much they returned for another day of wartime activities on Sunday! Not surprising really as this was a happy and friendly event with the #WWII re-enactors ready to talk to and entertain the crowds, and there were just lots of exhibitions, displays and re-enactments to enjoy.

Kidderminster Home Guard inspected our ID cards and kept order on the streets of this lovely Victorian village. At The Workers Institute there was an opportunity to learn and join in with the #1940s dancing, the D Day Darlings entertained us with WWII songs and a wartime wedding and variety show included a community singalong.

You could buy ration books and enjoy a spam fritter, sweets from the sweet shop and a drink at the Glass and Bottle Public House, and more. There was a #Blitz fire re-enactment with the home guard and fire wardens rescuing the occupants from a house  and also street performers, #vintage shopping stalls and military and civilian vehicle displays.
The Black Country Living Museum and it's industrial heritage of the Midlands provided an authentic scene for this 1940s venue and brought WWII Britain back to life! This was simply a superb event and convincing too, with so many re-enactors and members of the public in 1940s costume.

One of the best, if not the best wartime event I've been to!

(More photos from this event at 2015 Pictures page)