On the Home Front, 1939-45 - fantastic 40s fun!

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August 2007, 11am to 5pm  Free admission (£3 per car parking charge for visitors).

Stop press! On the Home Front will be back on 16-17 August 2008! All allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts are warmly invited! Click for details.

Rufford was utilised by the Leicestershire Yeomanry in 1939 and 1940 before subsequently becoming a training ground for the Coldstream Guards and their Churchill tanks prior to D-Day.  A perfect venue then for a great weekend of 1940s nostalgia with living history, displays, entertainments, music and song, plus Saturday evening dance. Despite a dire weather forecast and some subsequent rain, over 4,000 visitors came and enjoyed the show, which was very pleasing.

All allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts were warmly invited, and many came along. Feedback from participants and visitors alike was extremely positive. View excellent selections of photos taken by Red Zebra (click on Albums) and OSB Media.

Visitors could meet Winston Churchill and General Montgomery lookalikes, explore the living history, take part in an interactive display about the Battle of Britain, laugh at Mr Punch versus Adolf Hitler, see a harvesting display and wartime fire pumps in action, Home Guard personnel (on foot and mounted), soldiers, period vehicles, and much more, and join in with favourite songs and dances. Click for the timetable of displays and activities.

Featured performers included Ancient Wisdom, Axholme Heavy Horses, Croix de Guerre, Discover History, Festival Swing Dance Society, Foriegn Fields, Hands on History, History Horse,  Moonlight Serenaders, NFS Display Group, Robert Burns, John & Claire Priestley, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Shore Patrol, UK Home Front, Virtue to Victory, Wartime Weekenders, 4.Commando and others. Also, there was plenty of 1940s "stuff" to browse and buy.

Saturday evening dance A hugely enjoyable sell out evening with with music and dance with G.I. Jive and the Moonlight Serenaders. Entrance to 40s enthusiasts and other visitors was just £4 (with free passes for all re-enactors/groups booked to perform set displays daytime and those bringing period vehicles). Bar, 40s style food and refreshments available - click for the menu.

Groups or individuals wishing to participate in future 40s weekends are invited to register with us, so we can forward full details when available.

Visiting picturesque Rufford Country Park

The main entrance to Rufford is situated on the A614 Nottingham-Doncaster road, 2 miles south of Ollerton and 17 miles north of Nottingham. The park offers lots for visitors to see and enjoy:

- the remains of the 12th century Cistercian abbey with an exhibition on the life of the monks who once lived there

- craft centre and gallery with changing exhibits

- ceramics centre tracing the history of studio pottery

- craft shop

- coach house, offering a variety of snacks and drinks

- Savile Restaurant, serving home-cooked lunches and traditional cream teas

- restored former orangery and bath house

- formal gardens, including a herb garden and the Rufford Sculpture collection

- Reg Hookway memorial Arboretum with a range of trees

- lake with a variety of wildfowl

- lakeside garden shop at Rufford Mill

- outdoor living store

- teddy bear shop

- woodland walks

- remains of two ice houses

- animal graves including the famous Derby winner, Cremorne

- picnic area and children's playground

Other events 2007

Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan this year.

Updated 31 December 2007