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

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 August 2008, 11am to 5pm  Free admission (modest car parking charge for visitors).

All allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts are warmly invited

A welcome return to Rufford after the success of our 2007 event - view photos taken by Red Zebra (click on Albums) and OSB Media.

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.

Visitors can meet Winston Churchill and General Montgomery lookalikes, explore the living history, visit a air raid plotting room in action, take part in an interactive display about the Battle of Britain, and laugh at Mr Punch versus Adolf Hitler. See a harvesting display and wartime fire pumps in action, Home Guard personnel including on horseback, troops practising for D-Day, British and American military police, ARP command post and period vehicles. There'll also be opportunities to join in with favourite songs and dances including Lindyhop.

Performers and participants include the 82nd Airborne Battle Group, Airborne Associates, Ancient Wisdom, Axholme Heavy Horses, Blue Bird's 1940's Re-enactors Society, Discover History, East Yorkshire Regiment Living History Group, Family On Rations, Festival Swing Dance Society, Foreign Fields, The Garrison, Hands on History, History Horse,  Moonlight Serenaders, National Fire Service Display Group, Northern Forties, Robert Burns, John & Claire Priestley, Shore Patrol, Sittingbourne Homefront Living History Society, Starcraft All Services, Suffolk Wartime Weekenders,  UK Home Front, Viv the Spiv, Virtue to Victory and others. Also, there will be plenty of 1940s "stuff" to browse and buy.

Saturday evening dance A sell out last year and likely to be as popular in 2008! A hugely enjoyable evening with with music and dance, with music from G.I. Jive and the Moonlight Serenaders. There's a modest ticket price for 40s enthusiasts and other visitors (with free passes for the first 100 re-enactors/performers booked to perform set displays daytime and those bringing period vehicles). Bar and 40s style snacks available. Dance tickets on sale from July, please revisit for more details nearer the time.

All allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts are warmly invited.Groups or individuals wishing to participate in this 40s weekend are invited to register with us, so we can forward full details when available.

Please note, except for Italian POW impressions (very welcome as they were present at Rufford), no German/Axis impressions are permitted in order to preserve the Home Front theme. Thank you.

If you enjoy 1940s events, then don't miss Midsummer 1940s at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, on 21-22 June - a mini version of On the Home Front!

Also at Rufford this year - Medieval living history and entertainments on 17-18 May.

Armoured soldiers, camp followers, encampment, combat and displays, including a re-enactment based on the Wars of the Roses Battle of Worksop in 1460. Plus a Norman wedding, and have a go archery for the kids!

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 2008

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

Updated 25 March 2008