A DATE WITH VERA

A BIG surprise was in store for former businessman Ernie Witcombe, of Okehampton Crescent, Welling, when he visited the War and Peace Show on Saturday.

Back in 1936, Ernie worked for the Co-op Store in Barking Road, Plaistow, East London, where a frequent customer was Vera Lynn.

"Vera often sang at the Working Men's Social Club, opposite the store," said Ernie. "I always made sure I served her when she came in."

On Saturday he and his wife Lily were invited to join Dame Vera for lunch at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, where the War and Peace Show is held. Known to servicemen as The Forces Sweetheart, Dame Vera was guest of honour at the Show.

"It was a wonderful surprise," he said. "I have always been a great fan of Dame Vera, and have followed her career right through.

"When she came into our store she would spend more than £1, which was a lot of money in those days. There was always a battle for the privilege of carrying her groceries out to the car."

Ernie sat next to Dame Vera throughout the lunch and chatted about old times.

Now 91, Ernie spent most of his working life running Whitcombe Cycles, and only retired from the firm - for the third time he says - a year ago. The company builds frames for racing bikes.

Next year he and Lily, 95, will have been married 70 years.

Also at Saturday's lunch were the owner of The Hop Farm, Peter Bull, and the organiser of the War and Peace Show Rex Cadman.

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For futher information contact Peter Cook, 01795 536915 or 07796 172680.

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War and Peace Show 2009 Trophy Winners

PASSION FOR PASSCHENDAELE REVEALS HIDDEN HISTORY

A ROYAL Marine from High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, has shaken off the sand and dust of Afghanistan to exchange it for the glutinous mud of a First World War trench.

Lee Hanmore and his father David Hanmore of Dynevor Road, will create the trench, together with a muddy shell hole, at the War and Peace Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood in July.

It will be a tribute to David's grandfather Stanley Hanmore and great uncle Ernest, both of whom fought in the Great War. Stanley came through but Ernest died of wounds.

The display will include authentic First World War weapons, including an artillery piece, Vickers and Lewis machine guns and rifles.

There will also be at least one horse drawn WW1 GS wagon, which has been beautifully restored by a member of the group, Nigel Bristow from Tonbridge. Nigel, whose great uncle also died in the War, hopes to have a second wagon ready for the show.

Members of the group will camp in an army style bell tent during the Show, and will wear uniforms created to the exact specifications of the 7^th Battalion Royal West Kents, David's grandfather's old regiment.

"We want the display to be a tribute to all the men who died in the Great War," said David. "But we also want it to be educational, showing visitors how infantry soldiers coped with the mud and mess, in the days leading up to Passchendaele."

It was Lee Hanmore who came up with the idea for the display following a seven-month tour of duty with his Mortar Troop, 42 Commando, in Afghanistan.

David is a member of a re-enactment group that is usually involved with the history of the 10^th Essex Regiment, volunteer infantrymen who formed part of Kitchener's volunteer army.

While camped with the group in Belgium he had an experience that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"One of the people I was camped with had a book with records of men who had died in the Great War," he said. "From this we learned that my great uncle Ernest had been camped at the very farm we were staying at before he was mortally wounded.

"But what really hit me was the discovery that he had been there 90 years ago to the very day that we were camped there."

Ernest Hanmore, who served with the 12^th Royal Sussex Regiment, died of wounds at a regimental aid post at nearby Du Hallow. He is buried in the military cemetery there.

David and his fellow re-enactors were able to perform a simple but authentic wreath laying service at the graveside.

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 .

Family tickets to the War and Peace Show can be ordered at a discount from www.thehopfarm.co.uk