Ilkeston - Return of the Forties
w/e 03 October 2021
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
In the past we have been to
many special events at the Erewash Museum, Brass Band Concerts,
Motorbike Days and Garden Parties to name just three but since
the pandemic struck many of these events have been cancelled.
The regular "Swing Back To The Forties" day is usually
held in June each year and that to fell victim to the coronavirus
but it made its return on Saturday 25th September 2021 - and
we were there.
High Street was closed to all vehicles except those that were
part of the event and an old Military Police vehicle was parked
outside the museum's gates.
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There were more military and civilian vehicles parked inside
the grounds including the little blue vehicle on the right. This
was "Betsy" the Bradford, a 1948 car bought in 1951
by the present owner's father and which now has over 320,000
miles on the clock.
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An old style ice cream stall also stood in the grounds but we
weren't tempted to try the wares.
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Inside the museum were several special displays and exhibitions
for the day. This lady was demonstrating crocheting and knitting
and showed how bandages were knitted as part of the war effort
in the 1940s.
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Other garments, patterns and photographs were on display headed
by a war time slogan "Do Your Bit And Knit".
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In another room many items common in the 1940s were on display
and forties fashion was also much in evidence.
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Outside Annie Andrews gave several performances throughout the
day singing songs that were popular during the decade and particularly
during the war years.
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Demonstrations of popular dances were also provided on the lawn
by the Festival Swing Dance Society.
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The event was also graced by "Winston Churchill" seen
here waiting to be piped in to give his stirring speech.
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Veterans and members of the Royal British Legion enjoyed the
entertainment and volunteers raised funds for the Legion selling
various items including of course poppy mementoes for Remembrance
Day. The event concluded with a Remembrance ceremony led by the
Legion.
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