The Best Guide for the NN12 Area

Village At War Weekend Breaks All Records

Lola Lamour at Stoke Bruerne's record breaking village at war

 
Thousands turned out over the weekend, to watch or be part of, the huge cast of 40s re-enactors at Stoke Bruerne’s 5th Village at War event, breaking all previous records for attendance and funds raised to help support The Canal Museum.
 
This year two Spitfires from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight buzzed the blue skies above the picturesque canal village while Home Guard platoons rubbed shoulders with Field Marshall Montgomery and Sir Winston Churchill to the nostalgic strains of Vera Lynn’s White Cliffs of Dover being played out over the tannoy.
 
David Blagrove, Chairman of the organisers, Friends of The Canal Museum said: “One of the car parks was full by 11 o’clock, which hasn’t happened in the past.” Mr Blagrove added: “As far as I’m aware the event is uniquely positioned, we don’t know of any other canal community in the country where such an event takes place.”
 
As well as the air display, there were countless re-enactors including the Women’s Land Army, Spiv’s, Policemen, the 7th British Infantry, Airborne Forces, French Foreign Legion and many more with full supporting armoury in the form of tanks, military vehicles, and of course, colourful vintage boats on the canal.

Musical entertainment was provided by the glamorous Lola Lamour and George Formby (aka Paul Casper) while dance classes were to be had at the Village Hall along with afternoon Tea Dances.

The whole village got involved. The Church hosting 1940s fashion shows on both days and schoolchildren at Stoke Bruerne Primary running a “nippy style” Tea Rooms.
 
Michael Butler, Chairman of the Village at War sub-committee said: “We are immensely grateful to the residents of Stoke Bruerne who not only let us take over their village for two days, but decorate their houses and even help us set up and run the event.”
 
As well as The Friends of The Canal Museum, village organisations, charities and canal societies benefit through direct fundraising. It is anticipated that the good weather and increased attendance this year will result in a bumper result financially.

AboutMyArea/NN12 was on hand to get some pictures - Saturday morning at Village at War and the Drumhead Service on Sunday.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

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