The Holme Front

We have done something different today and totally enjoyed it.  We have been to a 1940s weekend that takes place in a little tiny village every year at the beginning of October and the whole village is taken over by enactors, dressed in period style and willing to engage in conversation about their different specialisms.  And the event is free.  Parking is in a field as you come into the village and a nominal charge of £2 is made.

There was a fine display of wonderful cars, a Charabanc vintage motorbikes, visitors dressed up and looking superb in vintage costumes.  Spam fritters/in buns (Yuk I grew up on Spam and its nothing to do with a computer), cakes of the period. Bakewell tart, Victoria sandwich.  Lots of stalls selling bric-a-brac and vintage items.  It was very much a case of de-ja-vue for me as a lot of the items we came across were the sort of items that my Nan had in her home for a long time.  The way of life for that period was also the way my grandparents lived throughout their lives.  They had a smallholding, fruit trees, bees, chickens, pigs, the wild hedgerow and they made the most of what they had which was very much what they had been doing before the war years in any event but the lack of supplies etc. made people put stuff up if and when they came across it. 

There were also dance exhibitions with people demonstrating dances of the time which were very impressive.  There were hairdressers on site so that you could have your hair coiffured into a style of the day.  I did not have this done but if we go back next year I may have to indulge. There was a charge for doing this but some of the ladies looked absolutely fantastic.  There was a lady dressed in full Women's Land Army uniform.  (My mum's older sister was in the Land Army and she was sent to March, near Peterborough from Lincoln.  She met her husband in March and taught him how to milk a cow).  It was an extremely long marriage.

There were all sorts of exhibits relating to life in the country including pigs, chickens, rabbits and also including an Anderson Shelter.

My grandfather who was a Fitter/Engineer was trade barred from joining the Forces.  Instead of going to the village air raid shelter he decided that the family were going to have their own.  He duly dug the foundations, got the Anderson Shelter in situ and fitted it out with bunk beds and whatever else they thought was needed.  Very pleased with themselves when the next air raid warning went off the family all trouped off to the air raid shelter with Pop going in first.  He ended up in water.  He had dug the foundation lower than the water table and that was the end of their personal shelter.

There was also a band playing all the old tunes and it really did add to the atmosphere and there is a dance on this evening; apparently the tickets go reasonably quickly.

There were all sorts of live demonstrations going on as well.  The event is on from 10:00am to 4:00pm today and tomorrow as well.

We went with our son daughter in law today and then met up with her mum and her close friend who was an absolute hoot.  Very pleasant company and a very good day.

However if you would like further information please go here:

http://lifeontheholmefront.co.uk/

All in all a fantastic day out and then we went to the Pub to get some dinner.

I am now extremely stuffed.

Catch you later.

Pattypan

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