ORGANISERS of the world's biggest military history event, the War and Peace Show, have appointed a company that specialises in Second World War re-enactments, to publish its glossy magazine show guide for 2010.

Tonbridge based Edon Publishing Ltd already produces the World War ll Re-enactors Magazine as well as the website www.reenactingww2.co.uk.

It was an ideal choice for the War and Peace Show, which takes place at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, just a few miles from Tonbridge.

"Our magazine programme is an important part of the Show," said organiser Rex Cadman. "In addition to a comprehensive schedule of events, it includes high quality photographs and features highlighting the new events taking place each year.

"We sell 12,000 copies, and many visitors keep them as a lasting souvenir to remind them of a great day out.

"As a company specialising in Second World War re-enactments, Edon Publishing has a real understanding of what we are about and we are glad to be working with them."

Publishing director at Edon, Stuart Humphrey said: "We have long been admirers of the War and Peace Show and the work it does to keep alive the history of our nation's fight for freedom.

"We share the same ambitions and the same ethos, so we are more than delighted to be working with the Show, which is now in its 28th year."

The War and Peace Show takes place from 21-25 July, and this year celebrates the end of the Second World War, and the 70^th anniversaries of the Dunkirk evacuation and the Battle of Britain.

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For further information contact Jacqui Curtis, Marketing Manager on 01622 870804 email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter Cook on 01795 536915/07796 172680 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 EDON PUBLISHING WINS 2010 WAR AND PEACE SHOW GUIDE

Publisher of WWII Re-enactors Magazine – Edon Publishing Ltd, is pleased to announce a brand new partnership with the War and Peace Show, the world's largest military show. Edon will be publishing the 2010 Official Show Guide, which will provide visitors with a comprehsive directory of attractions and traders at the event, held from 21st-25th July at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent.

Rex Cadman, organiser of the War and Peace Show, said: “It’s great to have Edon Publishing on board. The War and Peace Show is growing and diversifying year-on-year and we need strong professional partners to help get the message across that we offer an entertaining and colourful, educational event unmatched by anything on the planet.”

Stuart Humphrey, publishing director of Edon Publishing added, "We are delighted to be working with Rex and his team - as publishers of WWII Re-enactors Magazine, we already have a great relationship with many of the show's attendees and exhibitors, and we will be bringing this expertise to the production of the guide."

Should you wish to advertise in the 2010 War and Peace Official Show Guide, plus WWII Re-enactors Magazine reaching an impressive readership of  over 81,000, from as little as £99 please contact:

Andrea on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or

Stuart Tel: 07711 050 277

But do hurry as advertisement positions are nearly sold out!

www.reenactingww2.co.uk
www.edonpublishing.co.uk

SPITFIRE AND MESSERSCHMITT TO RETURN FOR THE WAR AND PEACE SHOW

THEY'RE back! The Spitfire "Spirit of Kent" and the Messerschmitt 108 that thrilled crowds at the War and Peace Show last year, will once again take to the skies above The Hop Farm at Paddock Wood, Kent, for this year's show.

There will be added poignancy for 2010, because the two iconic aircraft will be occupying airspace where exactly 70 years before, the Battle of Britain was partially fought - a turning point for the Second World War.

Both aircraft will make their appearance on the Sunday, 25 July.

"It will be good to hear the throaty roar of the Spitfire's Merlin engine once again," said Rex Cadman the Show's organiser. "Particularly in such an important year, when we are celebrating the most significant event in the history of the RAF.

"The aircraft's appearance at the War and Peace Show is a tribute to the courageous airmen whose skill and determination played a crucial role in turning defeat into victory.

"The return of the Messerschmitt 108 provides a rare opportunity for people to see a German wartime aircraft in action. This machine was not a fighter, in the style of its sister aeroplane the Messerschmitt 109. But these machines did make frequent forays across the Channel, often to make early morning hit and run raids."

Paul Campbell of The Kent Spitfire, which has arranged the War and Peace display, said: "Both aircraft will be in authentic 1940 livery and looking their best for such an important anniversary year. We are delighted to be asked back to the War and Peace Show where the crowds have always shown massive appreciation of these iconic wartime aerplanes."

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For further information contact Jacqui Curtis, Marketing Executive on 01622 870804 email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter Cook on 01795 536915/07796 172680 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

‘JEEP FOR A POUND' RAFFLE WILL AID HELP FOR HEROES

SHOPPERS at Tescos' Westwood store near Broadstairs, Kent, had a chance to win a genuine military Jeep for just £1 at the weekend, (13 and 14 Feb) and at the same time raise money for Help for Heroes.

It's a classic Willys vehicle and is being raffled by the War and Peace Show team at £1 a ticket, to support the forces charity.

The raffle will be drawn on Sunday 25 July, the last day of the Show, which takes place annually at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood.

Before then the Jeep will feature at a variety of events across Kent, including a second appearance at the Westwood Tescos on the weekend of 10 and 11 April.

Built in the 1950s, the Jeep, worth about £8,000, has been expertly restored and will be handed over to the winner in "on the road" condition.

"Jeeps are great fun," said Rex Cadman, of Ash, near Sandwich, organiser of the War and Peace Show. "Most military vehicle collectors start with a Jeep, including myself."

"The War and Peace Show reflects military history, but we believe it's also important to support service people who are risking their lives now, to keep us safe."

The raffle is being run by Ken Ditchfield, a military vehicle enthusiast from Ramsgate, Kent who is a member of the War and Peace organising team.

Last year's Show raised more than £15,000 for Help for Heroes.

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For further information contact Jacqui Curtis, Marketing Manager on 01622 870804 email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Peter Cook on 01795 536915/07796 172680 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

HGV MOT Exemptions – Proposed withdrawal of some categories

Some members may be aware of the Consultation Document that has been raised by the Department for Transport (DfT) with regard to proposals to reduce the number of categories of HGV that are exempt from MOT testing.  In summary the position is this:

1.  If you own a post-1960 HGV (all pre-1960 HGVs are exempt, and it is not proposed to withdraw this), then it must go through an HGV test, unless it falls into one of the test exempt categories.  This list of exemptions is being reviewed, and the DfT is proposing to withdraw some of those exemption categories.

2.  The DfT has issued a consultation document, which can be accessed atthe website:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/mottestingexemptions/consultation.pdf

This shows the full list of current exemptions, and those planned to be withdrawn.  There are few exempt categories that would apply to Military Vehicles.  If, however, you believe you own an exempt vehicle, then it is recommended you check the website to confirm the current and proposed position.  If you consider your vehicle is exempt, and that the category under which it is covered is being considered for withdrawal, then you can put a submission to the DfT stating why you believe it should remain exempt, via the website (or by letter).

3.  The Invicta Military Preservation Society (IMPS) and the Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) are already working with the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) to put submissions to the DfT, on behalf of MV owners, which  particularly address:

- concerns of HGV owners, who may now have to have their vehicle tested, about access to testing stations, potentially prohibitive cost of tests, etc.

- ensuring that HGV testing of historic vehicles takes account of their design and construction at the time they were built (similar to the ordinary MoT test), so that there are not requirements to have HGVs 'upgraded' to include modern criteria, and that HGV MoT testers are properly aware of the nature of historic vehicles and apply a standard set of rules across all testing stations, but always recognising the importance of road safety.

- mitigating as much as possible the administrative impact of HGV testing for historic vehicles, such as access to testing stations; making inspectors available to inspect vehicles on site, where access to testing stations is impractical; keeping costs down, etc, but again recognising the importance of road safety.

- promoting to the DfT the responsibility of MV owners of exempt vehicles to ensure that their vehicles are safe and roadworthy, and do not use the exemption to put unsafe vehicles onto the public highway. 

As responsible historic vehicle clubs IMPS and MVT support efforts to improve road safety.  Our role is to try to promote a balance in legislation that properly reflects both road safety and the technical aspects of historic vehicles, as well as ensuring that, where possible, the membership is aware of their legal obligations.

A UNIQUE model Pacific tank transporter will go on display at the War and Peace Show in July.

It's the culmination of a year's work by Keith Palmar, from Blean, Kent, who has undertaken to create models of all the major military vehicles in the War and Peace Collection.

"The project came about almost by chance," said Keith, who has been building models of all kinds since he was a boy.

"I was with Rex Cadman - organiser of the War and Peace Show - when a call came through from a film company asking if he had any of Hobart's ‘funnies'."

These were the improvised tanks used on D-Day to clear mines, lay fascines, clear broken down vehicles, and generally prepare the beaches for the invading Allied forces.

"When Rex pointed out that these vehicles were just not available any more, they asked about models. That led to me being asked to build a flail mine clearer and a fascine layer, based on Sherman tanks."

The Pacific, which makes its debut this year, follows hot on the heels of the model Diamond ‘T' tank carrier Keith produced for last year's Show.

A former technical illustrator who has worked in the defence industry as well as for model companies such as Airfix, Keith always draws a model in great detail, before attempting to build it. Sometimes he just has old photographs to work from.

From the drawing he takes his measurements, and then comes the never ending search for materials from which to make components.

"There's a lot of improvisation involved," he said. "Knitting needles, bits from B&Q and old springs out of ball point pens have all found their way into my models."

The flails on the flail tank make use of chains used for jewellery combined with fishing weights, which create a completely realistic effect. For the fascines on the second of his Hobart's ‘funnies' he snipped sections from the straw blinds in his conservatory.

Motors are often a challenge, and the ‘funnies' both make use of Scalectrix racing car engines.

For both the Diamond ‘T' and the Pacific tyres had to be just right. Keith created a wooden plug on his lathe from which he cast a hard resin mould. Using a miniature Dremmel drill he cut the grooves to the exact pattern of the original vehicles, and the final version was sent off to have soft resin copies cast.

A major challenge on the Diamon ‘T' was the rear suspension which comprises independent bogies, pivoted in the middle, which in the real thing would have ironed out to some extent, bumps in the cratered and pitted roads.

The Pacific is chain driven, which also presented challenges, as did the rear suspension, which again had to be hand built from scratch.

"It's taken a long time to get these models right," said Keith. "But I enjoy what I do. There's a lot to do to get the collection complete, for example a Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV), an Achilles tank and an M40 self-propelled gun.

"I'm also working on a series of one-sixth German model tanks for another client."

But Keith does occasionally depart from the Lilliputian world of model making. He has restored a three-quarter ton Dodge military vehicle and a six wheel GMC. Currently he is working on a 1979 Chevrolet Blazer 4 x 4, which has no military connections at all.