Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire

Thousands of visitors flocked to Stoke Bruerne’s annual Village at War event in record breaking temperatures this weekend to enjoy the popular 40’s spectacle organised by The Friends of the Canal Museum and villagers. The event, which is now in its 4th year and has won many awards and accolades, was bigger and better than ever.

Living history groups and individual re-enactors came from all over the country to entertain and show visitors what life was like in wartime Britain. The glamorous singer Lola Lamour and George Formby (aka Paul Casper) were performing to packed audiences on the Alhambra Stage (under the arches of the canal bridge) and in the NAAFI tent. Wartime fare like spam sandwiches and bread and dripping were available and Monty and Churchill were on hand to carry out troop inspections. Tanks and all kinds of military vehicles were on display, the local Pitsford Home Guard were on parade and the Land Army were back again with their Dig for Victory Garden.

The history and fashion parade at the Church was a big WOW with visitors, many of whom went on to learn how to dance the hokey-cokey at the Village Hall Tea Dance before sipping a well earned cuppa at the Nippy Tea Rooms (aka Village School). And, and of course, there were the colourful vintage canal boats packing the towpath, many of whom had once played important roles carrying vital cargoes for the war effort.