War and Peace 2004

The best never rest, as we roll into 2005 whether you were there or not it was the best show so far - as always. Well since the 1988 show the sun shone throughout the whole five days, the atmosphere was wonderful there was a positive feeling from exhibitors, traders, living history, marshals and officials. All supporting and working towards ensuring that not only is the KM War and Peace Show the biggest but the best, and for those of us there that was evident, in every area. The considerable investment in time and money in finding the right toilet provider definitely paid off. This has been the first year I can remember for quite a while that we have had no complaints over toilets, instead emails and letters of compliments or congratulations and for this I have to thank Fiona Pollard who spent 3 months wading through toilet suppliers trying to find the right provider, although as a trader pointed out to me after 22 years of this shows existence we ought to get it right by now!!!

The 2004 show started for us back in July 2003, these days there is no respite between shows. Last year it took two weeks to clear the show site up. This year we had it cleared and packed up ready to leave within 5 days, the introduction of a compactor lorry every morning between 7 and 12 and all day Monday and Tuesday after the show has really had an effect. Noddy, Big Ears and his friends took over the Hop Farm the weekend after War and Peace. With the arrival of Noddy we knew it was time for us to go.

In 2003 it was August before we got home, a weekend break and it was back to work. Over 1000 emails had piled up whilst we had been away, the complaints over the toilets were legendary. We needed a lot more input on the computer operation for 2004. The show had gone well but with the new Health and Safety requirements it had been very stressful. We felt we were wading in treacle as we spent the rest of August closing down 2003 before we could start 2004. This year we ensured there was not a repeat performance by leaving a young lady by the name of Sarah behind in the office to man the computers. By September we were starting to see some daylight, the big question was will prices rise as the new forms were being printed? We were able to confirm the prices were being held for 2004 as they have been held for 2005.

Nick Cardew was working on the Christmas card as he is already for this year. October saw all the officials and marshals together again for a social evening of dinner and drinks and the presentation of the thank you plaques. Over 168 people attended that evening travelling from places as far a field as Doncaster and Exeter. The support for the 2003 show was immense which allowed us to build for the 2004 show.

As the New Year dawned we started our regular monthly get together. A bit like the old IMPS club evenings, without the politics, 60-70 people all pulling together to ensure the K.M War and Peace Show is a success. Each month we give a full feedback, from the smallest detail to the largest issue; all officials have their input with suggested changes and improvements. So far we have found that this form of working together is the best. Over the past 3-4 years a great team has been built. We have without a doubt the worlds most experienced arena marshals led by Andy Mitchell ably supported by Dave Woods on commentary, with the rest of the team Richard, Andy, Michele and the other Andy. This year they parked the tanks side by side from one side of the arena to the other then started a second row!!! From the humble Stuart ex Badger Ross that has attended 20 of the 22 shows to the mighty Challenger One of Terry Brooks who we believe has an even bigger surprise for us in 2005.

A special thank you must go to Pat Ware, Tony Lawrence, James Sutton, Nick Chance, Bob Fleming and our many other Arena Commentators who all give us their time to enlighten us with their in-depth knowledge on specific subjects.

Our booking-in team headed by Barbara Dixon with Rita Johnson and Andrew Partridge ably assisted by Pauline Spiers, Maria, Cindy Glen, Jill Jeffrey, Samantha Dunlop, Ian Brice, James Shopland, Donna Cromley, Andrea Butler and finally Brent Pollard receives constant compliments for its efficiency and friendly manner. Each year the feedback just gets better and better, the most common comment being after a long and often tiring journey a familiar face greets them with a smile and friendly welcome and with that small greeting the exhibitor knows he or she is home again.

During the year Barbara spends her time dealing with all the queries that exhibitors, stallholders and living history re-enactors fire at her, and each year as they arrive bearing flowers, wine or chocolates, it is nice to see that even today people remember to say thank you.

Believe it or not every week we still receive enquires with reference to IMPS, every one of these we try to refer to the right people or provide the information the caller is seeking.

This year the IMPS Boards decision not to be represented at the show caused concern for Imps members especially those wishing to renew their membership or support the club shop. As for the lack of a jeep raffle, when this was first started some years ago the Committee members and I took it upon ourselves to trailer the jeep to shows such as Stoneleigh, Sellindge, Malvern and Biggin Hill, to mention but a few. That first year the jeep made £7000 profit. With the current Boards desire to chase money maybe the Board members should take the responsibility of taking the jeep to various shows and promote the raffle themselves rather than just abandoning it. Enough said on politics.

The show seemed to fly; I cannot recall a previous show passing so swiftly. From the moment we opened on Wednesday morning the public rolled in, increasing each day. The celebrity turnout of Dame Vera Lynn, Sylvia Simms, several of the Dads Army cast along with cast members from It Aint Half Hot Mum and numerous others seemed to have an impact. For me personally Sylvia Simms was my favourite, a great character just plain good fun. I hope we have the pleasure of welcoming Sylvia back again one year.

The atmosphere of the show was at its best, it was like one long continuous party night that lasted for five days. We had sold out of stalls in June and with Eric Bell and Dave Wellingtons careful manoeuvring we gained another 15 plots which satisfied the waiting list, much to those stall holders relief. The stall area is one of the most difficult to marshal as you can imagine. Everyone in that area has paid for their little plot of ground whether they have paid for one plot or 10 plots their needs are the same. For many their income at War and Peace may well decide the future of their business and with pressures like that hanging in the air tensions can sometimes be quite fraught, and there is a need for delicate handling. Between Barbara at booking in and Eric and Dave on the ground this year passed with minimal fuss.

Living history was up 60%, the best turn out ever. Danny Butler and his crews support over the past year saw another great display and battle re-enactment, the sheer enormity of the work which has gone into building there diorama was only equalled by the work of Roger Jerram, Stuart Beeney and the rest of the Vietnam re-enactors with their Vietnam tunnels and their own battle re-enactment in the arena. For those of you who may not know it was Roger and his crew who started the War and Peace battle re-enactments, somewhere back in the mid 1990's. Of course today we host the world?s largest battle re-enactments with the second battle group led by Glen Swallow and the second Armoured Group led by Ian Saunders (Shady). Some 300 persons take part in these battles ably supported by more M8s, Halftracks and Stuarts than you will ever see anywhere else. None of this would be possible without the great support we receive from the tank and armoured vehicle owners, American, British and German. People such as Carl Brown, Steve Lamonby, Kevin Wheatcroft, Bob Fleming the Copeman Brothers, and numerous others. All of whom we owe a debt of gratitude, and finally the ones who make all of this come to life, Steve Vickers for the guns and ammo, Fred and Belinda Cornwell for the pyrotechnics. Without the rapid fire of 50cals, the return fire of a 2cm flak, constants bursts of small arms fire, explosions going on all around us and the salvos of Sherman and Tiger alike as they fight it out, all of these displays would lack reality without their input. The arena comes alive as the crowds flock to these spectacles of mayhem and destruction, leaving everlasting impressions on their minds.

These battles would also not be possible without the considerable amount of time and effort put in by Barry Jameson and Phil Spiers as the two of them trundle around the countryside, Barry with his low loader and Phil with our low loader, collecting all the armour for these events.

Regardless of the front line glamour jobs there is all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. The War and Peace staff from the girls at the front desk in the Hop Farm Admissions to the guys clearing rubbish, all pulling together to make it work. Sarah the lady who took on the unenviable task of cleaning and maintaining the shower block, never an easy job at the best of time, often made more difficult by the intolerance of others, no matter what the problem Sarah soldiered on regardless, as did many others. Vehicle marshalling is not an easy task as inevitably you are asking vehicle owners or stall holders to go in the opposite direction than the one in which they wish to go. Nick supported by Carol Hart along with Paul McDonald and their team felt the brunt of this, along with Paul Cartwright and his inimitable team. Judging by the dust in our washing machine at home at least one of our children spent quite some time on the dusty roads along with Robert Grover. As for our youngest Steff, once again ran merchandising with her friend Rachael. Selling out of several items including videos, DVDs, green t-shirts and this year's mugs, this said she has already started ordering for 2005.

With the split in public and quiet camping initiated in 2003, it really started to take effect in 2004, Rory Fenton along with Royce and Alex set up public camping with the best layout so far. Rory and Royce went on to marshal this throughout the show and they have already given feedback with improvements for 2005. As for quiet camping - this was marshalled by Charles and Jill Jeffrey's volunteers for their first time of marshalling. Those who camped in quiet camping found this to be a great improvement; Charles and Jill along with their dog are already looking forward to next year.

I first visited the IMPS spectacular back in 1987, now known as The KM War and Peace Show. Among the exhibits was a family camped around one of the trees ? Terry & Marion Elliott. In 2004 the same family, same month, same site just a different tree ? amazing how nothing changes. War and Peace would never be the same without the Elliotts. Terry & Marion along with Ashley look after the second arena, organise The Miller Tent and manage The Miller Field. Not bad for one family. This years battle re-enactments in 1/6^th scale complete with burning houses, exploding bridges and land banks has started to set new standards for other shows to follow. Along with this Terry had the unenviable task of keeping the stars happy, never an easy job.

As always Malcolm and Gaby Dunlop along with Bob Ellis and Colin Dawson and the rest of their gang set up Big Monkton's field well before anyone else. Malcolm's team now work on instinct alone as this is their fifth year of looking after this area. On top of this Malcolm and Gaby also organize appropriately dressed re-enactors for the front entrance gate for the public days, as well as providing superbly turned-out personnel for the evening of the Miller Nights. This year's team added some real style to the entrance lobby.

One large group of unsung heroes turn out each day at 08:45 prompt finishing at 6:30 pm. Their task is the manning of the Remagen Bridge and the barrier to the stall area. Clearly defined this year in their grey T Shirts with War and Peace logo alongside their NLBA logo the guys and girls of The North London Barmy have now manned the bridge for the past three years. Having heard no end of abuse in more languages than the rest of us even know exist. This stalwart bunch volunteered by their charismatic leader Carts provide me with a rota each year that each member takes his turn on the barriers even with a few gripes here and there. Alongside of this Carts and Minty provide me with a list of contact mobile phone numbers on the proviso that if we need it moved, delivered or escorted then just ring. Their motto is ?If we don?t have it, we know a man who does? as the cry of ?Send for Andy? rings out as another civilian car was in the wrong place and needed to be reparked. Or even a 40? artic trailer abandoned in the wrong spot.

One of the big jobs and often forgotten falls to Debbie Haynes and the Twickenham Off- Roaders whose team sets up Americas field, marshals no- mans land, organizes the 4x4 course, looks after the helicopter area and ensures the tank rides all go to plan. Fortunately she is ably assisted by Mole and Richard and the rest of her team.

This year saw the largest bike ride-out to date organized originally by Joe Sylvester, and taken over by the irrepressible Ginger Gammon of beer tent fame. When Joe retired from that role, Ginger well known in military vehicle circles for many years stepped forward and offered his services. Which has seen the bike ride out just go from strength to strength.

One of our unsung hero's has to be Greg Cottee who by himself or with just a little help from his friends looks after the Living History participants. From setting out the field, meeting them on arrival, ensuring their needs are met whether it be by locating four bales of hay or a JCB to dig them a trench, Greg is always there, always working late into the night often to be found around his caravan or marshalling box on the living history field. He was assisted this year by Robert and kept in line by his young son Nathan who is a credit to Greg.

Judging is always a difficult area, but with Angelo Tripodi overseeing the numerous judges, all went to plan with all prize winners lining up in the arena on Sunday afternoon to receive their awards.

This year saw the start of the marshals and officials catering tent in the Organisers field. With early delays of the setting up of the tent and kitchen, Rory stepped in to provide temporary accommodation for catering within his own marquee. Once we were up and running the first meal that hit the tables was roast chicken with all the trimmings. Each morning saw a full English breakfast that any trucker would have been proud of. Every morning at least 50+ people sat down to breakfast whilst being updated on the goings on of the previous days and the requirements for the day in question. These breakfast meetings have proved a great success. Each lunchtime thanks to the efforts of Jean up to 150 packed lunches found their way out to marshals and officials all over the show site, and each evening between 8 and 10.30 a delicious meal was ready as people came off duty. The entire burden of the catering area fell on the shoulders of Ken Ditchfield and Nobby Clark ably supported by Shaun Pellow and the Hop Farm catering staff, along with instant access to the facilities of Andy and Elite catering. Anyone for desserts!!!

With all great shows there are people who continue to do their bit behind the scenes like Geoff Sumner age 70!! Who still manages to potter around. Brian Laker and his team are always on hand to assist, not to mention their amazing display of vehicles. Paul Shea, our roving trouble shooter on his motorbike, is always available to nip here and nip there. Joanne and Paul Bater and the North Kent Area team assisting with the marshalling. Andy Haynes, who always arrives on site and volunteers to help and Georgie from Brighton, a new volunteer in booking in and numerous others. If we have forgotten to mention you then please accept my apologies.

Whether you like War and Peace or not the K.M War and Peace Show is without doubt a great family show. Judging by the amount of IMPS members there supporting it along with all the other clubs represented it is here to stay. So to those of you who did not attend there is always next year, 20th -24th July 2005 so book early and do not be disappointed. To all of those who did attend our thanks go out to you for your support in making War and Peace 2004 the greatest show on the planet. We look forward to welcoming you all back again in 2005.

Till then we wish you all the very best
Rex Cadman
IMPS Member No 593
The KM War and Peace Show Organizer

The War and Peace Show 2004 Video/DVD now available