Revisiting wartime Britain

Visitors will be going back to basics at Rufford Abbey this weekend at the latest On The Home Front 1939-1945 event.

Now in its seventh year, it allows people to experience the sights, sounds, emotions, glamour and humour of wartime Britain, as this period of modern history comes to life with a whole host of activities.

Among the highlights will be flypasts from a Spitfire and a Hurricane from the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, and on Sunday, a flypast by a Dakota transport plane.

For the first time Russian soldiers will be portrayed, accompanied by a T-34 tank.

Paul Norton, Nottinghamshire County Council project officer at Rufford Abbey, said: “On The Home Front 1939-45 is becoming ever more popular. With period household displays, large military camps, live music shows and a 1940s market, there is something for all the family and it really is a step back to wartime Britain.”

Other activities include meeting Prime Minister Churchill and Field Marshall Montgomery, the Land Army girls, military police, wartime sailors, RAF, US paratroopers and the British Tommy. There will be period vehicles, military encampments and living history shows, as well as displays of Allied troop manoeuvres and artillery firings.

Visitors can watch an air raid scenario taking place as the National Fire Service and the ARP fire guard battle to save trapped people from fire in a bombed building. Youngsters will be treated to a wartime puppet show, an interactive battle display, a Baby Boot Camp and the chance to ride on a 1930s roundabout.