WAR AND PEACE SHOW GETS READY TO ROLL

IT'S by far the biggest attraction in the South East of England. Where else could you watch TV personalities racing tanks, see hundreds of historic WW2 vehicles, listen to live 1940s band music, be photographed sitting in a Spitfire, meet members of the cast of ‘Allo ‘Allo, see battle re-enactments and living history displays and dozens of other activities?

The War and Peace Show, now in its 29^th year, is back at The Hop Farm, Beltring, near Paddock Wood, from Wednesday 20 July to Sunday 24 July.

As usual the Show will be visited by hundreds of Second World War veterans, men who faced evacuation from Dunkirk, stormed the beaches of Normandy, fought in the North African desert, drove the Germans out of Italy and the Japanese out of Burma.

There will be arena displays to thrill the crowds, including mock battles, involving tanks and infantry. A highlight will be a breakneck race between two tanks driven by TV's Johnny Vaughan and Steve Brooker, who present the Mud Men programme on the History Channel.

An almost continuous under cover entertainment programme features the Jive Aces, famous all over the world for their energetic jitterbug and jive, and the Glenn Miller style Bill Baker's Big Band. People can also learn 1940s dances such as the Lindy Hop and view the fashions created by a make-do-and-mend generation.

For those who are motor minded the Show regularly includes the biggest assembly of wartime vehicles to be found anywhere. They range from little Austin staff cars, through trucks and jeeps, to specialised monsters that actually saw action on the Normandy beaches in 1944.

This year the Show pays tribute to the men and women who fought in the Battle of Britain through a new display, the "Battle of Britain Experience". It comprises full scale replicas of a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a crashed Messerschmitt 109. The story of the Battle is told through the experiences of flying aces Bob Stanford Tuck and Adolph "Sailor" Malan.

As usual there will be the thrilling sound of Merlin engines as the Lancaster bomber, the Spitfire and the Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight display above the arena.

Living history groups have "dug-in" at The Hop Farm to create realistic displays of how men lived and fought during various wars, but mostly the Second World War. They represent soldiers from many of the armies that took part, including British, American, German and Russian.

How the Second World War impacted on Kent is brought vividly to life in a major photographic display, using A3 size prints of bomb damage, Land Army girls at work, military manoeuvres and many other activities in various parts of the County. You might spot your grandmother or granddad!

For the first time the Show will feature members of the cast of ‘Allo ‘Allo and for a small fee you can be pictured alongside them and contribute towards the Not Forgotten Association charity, which helps injured ex-service personnel.

The War and Peace Show is massive, coving the full 500 acres of The Hop Farm. It combines history with entertainment and excitement. It has also become a regular event for hundreds of veterans who can tell you what the Second World War was really like.

Said organiser Rex Cadman: "What began nearly 30 years ago as a display for dedicated military vehicle enthusiasts, has grown into a huge extravaganza with a wide appeal for families and military history buffs.

"Our team has been working hard all year to put together displays and activities to delight everyone."

For further information contact Peter Cook 01795 536915 or 07796 172680.

SCHOOLS DAY

BOTH the First and Second World Wars will feature in this year's Schools' Day at the War and Peace Show.

Schools have been invited to bring pupils to this special educational event at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, on Wednesday 20 July.

They will see re-enactments, demonstrations, historic military vehicles, equipment and exhibitions that will help bring alive events they learn about in their history lessons.

New for this year's Schools' Day are:

• A First World War dugout showing life in the trenches on the Western Front, complete with weaponry, WW1 artefacts, and a demonstration of how casualties were cared for. This display will be created by TV historians Andy Robertshaw and David Kenyon.
• Demonstrations of how Dads' Army volunteers and their teenage sons planned to knock out tanks, using simple domestic items such as bed sheets, dinner plates and a bucket of petrol.
• A Second World War tank with crew, showing how tanks supported Allied troops during the invasion of Normandy. Military vehicles of the period will also feature.
• The War and Peace Battle of Britain Experience, featuring two full size replica aircraft, a Spitfire and a Hurricane, and telling the stories of two fighter pilot heroes Bob Stanford-Tuck, who lived in Kent, and Adolph "Sailor" Malan, from South Africa.

Youngsters will also be able to see a comprehensive photographic display of A3 size photographs showing blitzed Kentish towns and children being evacuated to "safe locations".

There will be a demonstration - based on an original Morrison air raid shelter - to show how rationing restricted food, clothing and fuel supplies during the War.

A full size replica of a crashed Messerschmitt 109 will be centrepiece for a display showing how downed aircraft were guarded to ward off souvenir hunters.

There will be a demonstration of anti-aircraft fire using a genuine 3.7 AA gun - but not genuine ammunition.

And the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway team will have a life-size mock-up of the armoured train which patrolled the coastline for marauding aircraft and brought down at least one.

On a lighter note, the children will have a chance to see entertainers in 1940s dress performing the songs of the period.

This year's Schools Day will be on the first day of the Show, Wednesday July 20. Last year it was held on the day before the Show, but organiser Rex Cadman said: "We would like them to be able to visit other areas, where there will be re-enactments, mock battles, many more vehicles and displays relating to just about every aspect of the Second World War.

"Last year's Schools' Day was a huge success with more than 1,200 children attending. This year there is even more to look at and experience.

"It's very important that young people learn about and understand both world wars and the sacrifices made by their grandfather and great grandfathers so they can live free and happy lives."

‘ALLO ‘ALLO - IT'S MIMI AND CO - SET FOR WAR AND PEACE 

THOSE irrepressible irresistible resistance fighters from the cast of ‘Allo ‘Allo will be abandoning Rene Artois' café and setting up headquarters at the War and Peace Show later this month.

At least six original cast members will be there to meet people, sign autographs and be photographed with visitors, to raise money for charity.

Although the series came to an official end nearly 20 years ago, repeat showings around the world have created an international fan base, and catchphrases such as: "I will say this only once" and "you stupid woman" are still frequently repeated.

Among the original cast members scheduled to appear are Sue Hodge, who played killer waitress Mimi Labonq, Richard Gibson who was the creepy Gestapo officer Herr Flick, his leggy lover Helga played by Kim Hartman, Guy Siner who played the camp German officer Lieutenant Gruber, John D. Collins who was one of the British airmen and Arthur "good moaning" Bostrom who played the British spy disguised as a French policeman. Vicki Michelle, who was the sexy waitress Yvette Carte-Blanche, may also be there.

"Working on ‘Allo ‘Allo was just one long party," said Sue Hodge. "It was all done in front of a live audience, and as soon as we finished recording the TV series we would go on to do the stage show."

Money raised at War and Peace by the ‘Allo ‘Allo team will go to the Not Forgotten Association which looks after the recreational needs of injured ex-service personnel.

The War and Peace Show takes place at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, from 20 to 24 July. During their visit, the actors will be staying at The Holiday Inn, Rochester.

For further information please contact Peter Cook on 01795 536915 or 07796 172680.

IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE:

Driving vintage Military Vehicles on High Speed Roads.

Following recent tragic events on the M20 near Dover involving a WWII Jeep and a foreign van, I would like to urge all drivers of Military Vehicles participating in the War & Peace Show to consider how they can improve their visibility to following drivers.

This accident is the most recent of a series of similar incidents, and I know that an increasing number of owners have decided to stop driving on motorways with their vehicles. That is an option and their choice.

However, we are entitled to use roads, such as the M20, and many will wish to do so.

But how can we make ourselves less likely to be hit from behind by faster vehicles?

While our vehicles are road legal with their standard lighting; we can take extra steps to make ourselves and our vehicles more visible, both at night and during the day.

Some use orange flashing beacons; some use other flashing lights. I am not making any specific recommendations, but wish to share an option I used on a recent 2000 mile trip across Europe in my Jeep. I simply added a set of modern lights with magnetic bases and a length of reflective tape. The photos (in daylight and with camera flash) clearly show how it improves visibility, and can easily be removed once you arrive at the show:

I was one of the first people at the scene of the recent accident. I truly hope this message might encourage others to improve their visibility, and help reduce the likelihood of a similar tragedy.

John Corden C.M.I.O.S.H.      IMPS and MVT member. 

Reigate. June 2011