Tuesday 9 June 2015

BRIGHOUSE 1940’s WEEKEND 2015

Copyright image by David Swanbury


Another Brilliant weekend in Brighouse with sunny warm weather for the 1940’s event.  Similar to last year with maybe not quite the same number of actors but packed out with visitors.

Here are some random pics from my strolling around the town. 



Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Not sure what he is – Town Crier maybe
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

The toy dog is in the back of the Bentley
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

The chap standing in the charity shop doorway is nearly always there with his collecting bucket and I am sorry to say this completely deters me from going in to look at the large selection of books, which I think are a trifle expensive anyway to say they were donated.  They are cheaper elsewhere, but he really is a blocker there and when the weather is not so kind he sits just inside the doorway.  Can’t fault his dedication and tenacity though.
Copyrigh image by David Swanbury

Goodbye darling, stiff upper lip old girl, etc.
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Loads of Jeeps and lounging ‘Yanks’
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Some very good entertainment.
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These two could certainly belt them out.
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Fire pump originally from Rowntree Fire Brigade of York
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Either pick at it or thrust it in!
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Lounging seemed to define the ‘Yanks’
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

‘A policeman’s lot is not a happy one’ (Gilbt. & Sul.)
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Maybe an entertainer in that outfit
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

There were a couple of places with dancing to the nice old tunes of the day.  Here is a short video of one here for atmosphere -   Dancing      
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The ‘spivs’ really do look as though they do this as a full time job normally with weathered brown faces and I am sure must be market men or something like that in real life.
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I have to say the lady on the right has the slim physique, not shown, that I relate to people of that era, unlike many who look a bit too overfed to have lived with the rationing, diet and hardships of the time.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Fine set of teeth.  Not sure why he is covered with the flag but he did look a bit dead left alone by a wall out of sight.
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Wonderful model engines. 44864 is a scale model of a Stanier class locomotive of that number that was in service from the beginning of 1945 to 1968.  Some info - Loco 44864
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

GWR 2-6-2 Large Prairie Tank No.5575  A short video of this model from YouTube - Nathan
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Well maybe these are Germans.  The only ones I saw this year in Brighouse, so perhaps the rest went home defeated.  The hysterical and hypocritical Daily Mail makes a big issue of the fact that there were Germans around in the 1940s, represented at Brighouse and also when they were represented at Haworth and Meltham for their ‘40’s’ do and just about everywhere else when there is a 1940’s military thing.  And of course they are always referred to as Nazis regardless of the uniform and of course everyone is supposed to be up in arms and disgusted and affronted according to the Daily Wail.  So what do they do?  They publish 16 pictures of them, when recording the Brighouse event, to one of ‘Churchill’ and one of the minute’s silence and a bit of a video I couldn’t get to work on my PC.  At the end of the day people are showing a representation of the 1940's and no one has stated is should be purely of GB, in addition to which our TV is saturated with a continous display of Nazi Germany.  Still I don't know why anyone would want to dress as a German of the period except they did have some rather interesting uniforms.  The Daily Mail report
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Is Santa Claus German?
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Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps nurses in every day wear and nursing uniform of the period
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70 years on and they still stand the same way
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

I tended to think ‘actors’ who wear these uniforms had some connection with the Services in their past.  Judging by the gaiters maybe not.  Spot the anomaly.
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

This guy has a magnificent collection of French related uniforms along with the military history of the original owners.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

A genuine vet on the left in his beret.  The other old chap is wearing the insignia of the famous Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17F  Flying Fortress that still exists - Restoration
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Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Copyright image by David Swanbury

Just a view of the square where there was entertainment and crowds.
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The Mail never commented on Russians.
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Expectations.
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Yes I‘d stop her.  She looks suspicious.  Maybe a collaborator.
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I could murder a pint but no one is showing any interest in me.
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There as always. -   Derek Herbert                          
Copyright image by David Swanbury