THE WAR AND PEACE SHOW HISTORY, A POTTED VERSION

In 1980 a small group of Kent based enthusiasts got together to form a local military vehicle club, "The Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society" (IMPS) was born. 

As with all clubs, having an annual club show was high on the agenda.  Between the years 1980 to 1986 IMPS organised a variety of gatherings, whilst looking for a more permanent location.

In 1987 approaches were made to The Whitbread Hop Farm.  July of that year saw the first IMPS Hop Farm show.  150 vehicles attended the two-day spectacular.

In 1988, contrary to the myth, this was the year it rained and just over 100 vehicles braved the weather. Exhibitors helped to establish the very first of the now legendary "Beltring Beer Tents".

In 1989 Rex Cadman and Barbara Dixon joined the organising team and vehicle numbers subsequently grew to over 400. Traders were now recognised as an equally important element of The Show.

1990 to 1993 saw constant clear blue skies and sunny weather, which helped encourage a substantial increase in vehicle numbers.  Beltring was becoming the showcase for Tank owners.  Our Show was growing steadily.

In 1994 the "Back to the Beaches" show in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Normandy D Day landings exceeded 1000 vehicle exhibits and was now officially the largest military vehicle show in the world!

1995 - "The Victory Show" celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.  Vehicle numbers increased yet again.  A new aspect of the event arrived - and "Living History" was born whilst trade stand numbers and variety grew and grew.

1996 - Whilst searching for a new name, Rex Cadman and Nigel Hay came up with a title for the show. We were now celebrating the end of World War II and the beginning of 50 years of peace.  "The War and Peace Show" had arrived.  1996 also saw the first 3-day show.

1997 saw the last of the IMPS & Whitbread Hop Farm Shows.  As the brewers had decided to sell the Hop Farm, fears for the future of the show ran high and so did vehicle numbers.  In excess of 1800 vehicles turned out for what many thought was to be the last show.

In 1998, Brent & Fiona Pollard successfully purchased what is now known as "The Hop Farm Country Park" and welcomed the War and Peace Show.  Although they had no knowledge of what the show was about, they decided to give it their support.  The 1998 show was a roaring success, the now obligatory sun shone all the way and vehicle numbers exceeded 2000.

1999 saw the last of the 3 day shows as entries from all around the world prepared for what was going to be the biggest military vehicle show in the world - ever!

2000 was the 5-day Millennium Special.  Vehicle numbers exceeded all expectations and over 3000 attended.  So successful was the show that the formula of a 5-day show has now become a permanent feature.

2001 60^th Anniversary of the birth of the Jeep as huge numbers gather in the arena.  Living history re-creates Band of Brothers.  Fiona Pollard goes shopping and comes back with an Abbot SPG quickly joined by Rex Cadman's 432 as these were now painted in Hop Farm blue and were seen widely around the county promoting The War and Peace Show as it continues to grow.

2002 The Hop Farm went back 60 years returning to rural 1942 as the buildings changed appearance and the living history exhibitors moved in.  Land Army Girls grew vegetables as tractors and horses tended the land.  Meanwhile we celebrated 50 years of the Champ with the largest display of Champs in any one place at the same time since demob.  This year saw our first War and Peace wedding as Nick and Carena tied the knot.

2003 The 21^st Anniversary Show attended by 100,000 visitors as well as the 60th anniversary of the legendary Dam Buster's raid as Jeremy Hall exhibits his Lancaster fuselage.  We blow up the first double decker bus as an armoured personnel carrier crashes through it.  The Rolling Thunder Group commemorating the Vietnam war enlarges its battle re-enactments and living history displays.  The fashion shows go from strength to strength.

2004 saw the show honoured by the guest appearance of The "Forces sweetheart", Dame Vera Lynn DBE LLD who was supported by film star, Joan Simms, of Ice Cold in Alex, and the remaining cast of Dad's Army.  The show successfully raised £15,000 for Dame Vera Lynn's Charity SOS.  2004 also saw the 100^th anniversary of Glen Miller's birth and the 60th anniversary of his mysterious death.  His music lived on at the show with the Herb Miller Band led by Glen's nephew, John Miller now a resident of Kent.

2005 saw Bill Pertwee, Frank Williams and Pamela Cundell of Dad's Army return once again in support of Dame Vera Lynn's charity SOS.  Sunday saw the first day of rain since 1988 although this did not stop the March of the Veterans led by Albert Figg as 400 wartime Veterans marched past to attend the Veteran service to commemorate those who fought in WWII and every conflict since as a single low flying plane dropped poppies overhead

2006 The Hop Farm came under new ownership as Simon Hume-Kendall took up the reins.  Rex Cadman continues to operate the War and Peace Show at the Hop Farm as Show Organiser.  Star of the show was Rommel's Horch Feldmarschall Cabriolet, Kfz21 presented by local collector Mike Gibb.  Living history displays hit new highs with the amazing snow scene and the life size church and ensuing battle.  For the first time tank entries exceeded 100 exhibits.

2007 saw The War and Peace Team led by Rex Cadman and Barbara Dixon celebrating The 25th Anniversary KM War and Peace Show.  Peter Bull, Entrepreneur of the Year 2007, becomes a partner in the Hop Farm.  The 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War is commemorated.   Guest of honour this year was Johnson Beharry VC along with Colonel Tim Collins.  This year saw the first of the book signings in the Victory Marquee.  Stars of the show featured James and Annie Baxter's Land Rover which they had just driven home from Africa over a 14 month period alongside the Cadman's latest barn find Jeep.  Living History saw another amazing display by A Company 116th Regiment 29th Infantry Hell and Back.

2008 The Hop Farm now comes under the sole ownership of Peter Bull as Simon Hume-Kendall moves to Bewl Water.  Guests of honour were Buck Compton, Don Malarkey and Earl McClung, veterans of Easy Company who formed the basis of the series, Band of Brothers.  The Brits were represented by the Normandy Veterans, led by Frank Risbridger who now regularly present the awards in the arena at the Show.  The star of the show was Jacques Littlefield's Churchill MkV11 (Toad) and Rex and Rod Cadman's Panzer V (Panther) along with Steve Lamonby and his Panzer 38t Ausf F.  Living History was led by the 514th Truck Regiment Re-enactment Group (The Red Ball Express).  Highlight of the show was the appearance of the Battle of Britain memorial flight which bought everyone to a stand still.

2009  War and Peace exceeded all expectations and continues to grow.  The guests of honour at this year's show were Dame Vera Lynn, DBE LLD, accompanied by 300 Normandy and Arnhem Veterans transported by the London Taxi Benevolent Association.  Special guest was Lachhiman Gurung, VC.  This year saw a greater participation of warbirds with the Spitfire of Kent, the Messerschmitt 109 along with Ben Bendkowski's Piper Cub and the Battle of Britain memorial flight.  Star of the show was Field Marshall Montgomery's Rolls Royce on loan from the RLCM at Deepcut and a newly created Panzer III from the workshops of Jon Phillips.  Living History broke new grounds with the appearance of a U-Boat conning tower from the U-Boat Society.  The show was opened daily to the sound of 4 x 25pdrs provided by Jonathan Catton and The Garrison.  Vietnam Veteran, Wayne Dobos, flew in from the US to join the Rolling Thunder Group with their newly created Red Baron gun truck based on Wayne's original from 1969.  For the first time the Big Top had regular showings of Normandy and Arnhem footage presented by Richard Gibbons along with a sample of wartime Kent photographs from the War and Peace Collection archive. Winner of the Bart Vanderveen Award for 2009 was David Fletcher of Bovington Tank Museum.