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 used as a training ground by troops and armoured military units in World War II, so what more fitting a venue for this nostalgic weekend event which brings the sights, sounds, emotions and excitement of those wartime years back to life. Within an even larger event than last year with more added activities, visitors can meet ‘Winston Churchill’, ‘General Montgomery’, and many army, navy, air force, and wartime personnel, as well as civilians and children, all in period dress. Watch the Home Guard and regular army troops on manoeuvres along with armoured vehicles, thrill to 25-pounder gun firings, see a mounted trooper, visit an air raid plotting room, take part in a display about the Battle of Britain, and laugh at the ‘Mr Punch versus Adolf Hitler’ puppet show. Be careful of Viv the Spiv! You can join in with your favourite songs during the concert party, and enjoy the period dance displays – have go yourself! See wartime fire pumps and equipment in action, British and American military police on security checks, (do you have your ID papers?!!) watch demonstrations on bomb disposal, wartime food, period family life, and make do and mend. Visit an ARP command post, wartime art show, anti aircraft Bofors gun, and a harvesting display by the Land Army. Really buy period items from the 1940’s market, take a close-up look at military and civilian period vehicles, and much more!

Around 250 performers and participants include Airborne Associates, Ancient Wisdom, Axholme Heavy Horses, Blue Bird's 1940's Re-enactors Society, Discover History, The Dukes, East Yorkshire Regiment Living History Group, Family On Rations, Festival Swing Dance Society, Foreign Fields, Forever Forties, The Garrison, History Horse, Independant Field Company, The Lost Patrol,  Moonlight Serenaders, National Fire Service Display Group, Northern Forties, Notts & Derby Chums Association; Robert Burns, John & Claire Priestley, Shore Patrol, Sittingbourne Homefront Living History Society, Starcraft All Services, Suffolk Wartime Weekenders, The Wartime Weekenders;  UK Home Front, Viv the Spiv, Virtue to Victory and others. Also, there will be 1940s "stuff" to browse and buy.

Timetable of displays and activities

 Ongoing activities

v    Living history by soldiers and civilians of Airborne Associates, Blue Bird's 1940's Re-enactors Society, Discover History, Family On Rations, Forever Forties, Independant Field Company, Northern Forties, Martha's War Home Front Re-enactment, Notts & Derby Chums Association; Shore Patrol, Sittingbourne Homefront Living History Society, Starcraft All Services, Suffolk Wartime Weekenders, UK Home Front, Viv the Spiv, Virtue to Victory and others.

v      Harvesting display by Axholme Heavy Horses in the Long Meadow

v      1940s "stuff" for sale

v      Period vehicles

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 £6 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 now - call Rufford on 01623 821338 for details! Click for the evening menu.

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

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.

Also at Rufford this year - Medieval life, archery and combat 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

- 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 11 August 2008