BRIGHOUSE 1940s WEEKEND

Brighouse held its second 1940s Weekend event following the big success of the first one last year.  Saturday was largely wet but it brightened up in the afternoon and was well attended.  Sunday it was glorious and hugely attended.  It was a fabulous do.  So some of my images of the two days are below as I, like very many others, could not help snapping away.

He really should not be issuing fines using a ball pen.  In those days he probably had an indelible pencil that he had to wet the end of with his tongue to get it to write.

 

1940s chic.

This old chap was going round with his video camera and his photo camera snapping away and having a great time.

Then there were those with thousands of pounds worth of kit.  I wonder if I could do better with one of these lenses?

The rule is - 'Never point a gun at someone unless you plan to shoot them'.  This Vet. was handing it back point first, well aimed too. - OK it was presumably deactivated but still!

General Patton tells me he is a Halifax lad. 

And obviously has a way with the ladies.

The fish and chips look good 

1940s styling was available

Or a cut-throat razor shave.
 

Spivs 'under arrest' with a bribe pending.

Apart for a bit of a funfair at the event for the children there was this lovely train set to ride on.
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Russians at lunch.

I don’t know if he ever was one, or really is one, but he certainly has the stereotype right. (He was only chatting to the poor lady just out of shot too)

 

Intimidates me more than the Germans!

Some took dogs, others were different!

The Spitfire was a very good replica and many enjoyed the experience of sitting in the cockpit

I don’t know why, maybe because over the years we have had our perceptions coloured, but chaps in ordinary German military uniform seem somewhat intimidating.  If this chap were wearing a baseball cap instead of that hat would I feel that way I wonder?  I chatted to one who turned out to be a very nice, mild, ordinary local Yorkshire gentleman who is in a walking group that comes around our way.  In real life he certainly didn't live up to the image he was portraying in his bit of theatre.

Mind you the authentic sneer below doesn’t help.  The Daily Mail ran an article about these chaps.  (Someone makes an issue every time they appear).  Make what you will of it and the subsequent comments there.  The headline to the article is totally wrong and sensational as no one was dressed as a Nazi as far as I know.   I was actually interested in seeing the 'German' actors as they were the nearest thing to the originals that I have only ever seen on film or photos - and we are inundated with WW2 on the TV anyway.  In most theatre there is the good, the bad and the ugly.  Daily Mail article

Guarding the Doodlebug.  I suppose the V1 is a replica like the Spitfire.

A Rolls Royce Griffon V12 Mk58 36.7 Litre aero engine with contra-rotating propellors.

Which gave demonstration run-ups and was an absolute delight not least for the fabulous ear splitting roar.  A taste of it is on YouTube although it is pretty tame compared with reality- Engine running

 

Many of the locals made a real effort with authenticity.

I chatted to this French Foreign legionnaire who is a local chap and passionate about his French history and the authentic origins of his assorted uniforms.  The more I talked to these people the more I understood how much they know and how much they get out of re-enactment.   At the end of the day it is pure theatre and this is their opportunity to walk the boards.

There was some very good live musical entertainment of the era and some pretty good dancing too.

This chap is brilliant.  Someone told me he comes from Wakefield.  But he plays role of Winston with total reality and makes the historic speeches that bring a lump into your throat.  His real name is Derek Herbert.

Civic dignitaries - Mayor of Calderdale, Councillor Ann Martin with her consort, Mohammad Naeem - they were real!

Well the 1940s weekend may have had a mostly militaristic flavour but these gentlemen WW2 Veterans experienced the horrors of the real thing.  One doesn't get all those gongs for nothing. 

But well done Brighouse for putting on such a magnificent entertaining spectacle.