Salute To The '40s
Join Re-Enactors, Bombsite Urchins and 'Spivs' for a Nostalgic Wartime Weekend
You'll be transported back to the Second World War on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September when we hold our hugely popular Salute to the '40s weekend.
Open between 10am and 6pm each day, the event showcases life in the 'Front Line County' of Kent during the war years. The dockyard, itself much unaltered since the forties, will be brought alive by Naval, Military and Home-Front re-enactors, wartime vehicles, period fashion and an exciting programme of wartime entertainment with humour, music and dance. Around every corner you will encounter bombsite urchins, 'spivs', soldiers and sailors, coppers and Dockyard Maties.
Masses of civilian re-enactors drawn from right across the UK will portray life on the Home Front. Displays will include a 1940s' House with Anderson Shelter, a wartime Kitchen and a WVS exhibit presented by a real war-time evacuee who will be happy to talk about her experiences! Keep an ear open for the air-raid siren though, as there will always be the prospect of the odd raid or two - courtesy of a real full-size wartime siren.
Special activities will see an operational US Army Ordnance Depot with trucks, train and steam crane, fire-fighting displays and the Dockyard's own Home Guard Company. A typical British Army infantry encampment will be created complete with Medical Aid Centre, Field Kitchen, Radio and Communications Section, Infantry tent-lines and support vehicles. And if you're feeling really energetic, the Cinque Ports Lindy Hoppers will be running have-a-go dance sessions featuring all the hits from the period.
Even the catering will be themed to the period. A NAAFI Wagon will serve Tea and Bread Pudding, a Jones' Butchers Van will turn out bacon 'butties' and Commissioners's House will provide a truly atmospheric 1940's Tea Rooms experience.
Music that kept up wartime morale will feature in two great concerts each day. 'Workers Playtime', at lunchtime will see singers and dancers supported by a 'Cheeky Chappie' comedian presenting music and humour of the period, under the direction of MC "Gypsy John". The Grand Finale Concert each afternoon sees one of the Britain's finest 1940s' entertainers, Fiona Harrison, performing her very special show. 'The Fleet's in Port Again', concluding with a Grand Finale community sing-song.
The Historic Dockyard's own very special 1940s' collection will be on show in the shape of a rail-mounted anti-aircraft gun, an original underground bomb shelter, a Bofers AA gun and towing tractor, and of course the Second World Destroyer HMS Cavalier complete with her own complement of naval re-enactors from the Grey Funnel Line.
You can really enter into the spirit of the event by donning outfits of the period for a truly memorable experience!
