Issue 88 - The 1940s Society

The 1940s Society
For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain
Issue 88
£3.00
November / December 2014
The Imperial War Museum
Was £40 MILLION Well Spent?
Edmundo Ros
by Jeff “Two-Tone Boogie”
From the Garage Floor
A new series for Vintage Car Owners
Plus Diary Events
And much more...
The 1940’s Society, 90 Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2UX
Tel: 01732 452505 Web: www.1940.co.uk Email: [email protected]
Cover:The Imperial War Museum - London
1
A Lasting Legacy?
With 2014 commemorating a number of military anniversaries, including
the commencement of the First World War it has been a rather exciting
time for all those interested in military history. The additional press and
television coverage seems to have sparked a growing interest in all
things military and an increase in those wanting to know more about
the Second World War. The Imperial War Museums visitor numbers
have gone up significantly since their refurbishment but time will tell if
that is sustainable (Do see the review on page 8 and if you have visited
let me know what you think – Is there a museum you would
recommend?). Elsewhere there have been more 1940s events than
ever and it will be interesting to see if there is a lasting legacy for 2015.
With the passing of another year comes the opportunity for me to thank
you for your support of the Society and to ask for your continued
support in 2015. If you haven’t already, please renew your subscription
on-line at the Society website or fill in the application on the back of this
magazine. As normal I welcome your suggestions and comments and
do try to include a variety of articles in the magazines. Please let me
know if there is something you would particularly like covered.
Once again I have to thank all those that have come along to
give lectures and write articles over the past year. I have
learnt so much myself and am always grateful to those that can shed
light on otherwise unknown wartime subjects.
Thank you once again and please have a happy and peaceful
Christmas and New Year.
Ian
Please support the Society with a subscription on-line at
www.1940.co.uk or fill out and return the form on the back of this magazine.
If you have any comments, articles or information of interest we would be pleased to consider it for future use. Please contact us at: The
1940’s Society, 90, Lennard Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2UX or email us at: [email protected] .
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part and in any form whatsoever, is strictly prohibited without the prior permission of the editor.
Whilst every care is taken with material submitted to ‘The 1940s Society”, no responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage. Opinions
expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the 1940s Society.
Whilst every effort has been made to contact all copyright holders, the sources of some pictures that may be used are obscure. The
publishers will be glad to make good in future editions any error or omissions brought to their attention. The publication of any quotes or
illustrations on which clearance has not been given is unintentional.
Designed and produced by Ian Bayley. . © Ian Bayley 2014
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The 1940s Society
For Everyone Interested in Wartime Britain
Regular meetings at Otford Memorial Hall near Sevenoaks
Friday 28 November 2014 - 8pm
Doodlebugs & Rockets
V1s & V2s
by Bob Ogley
It took Bob Ogley many months to research
and write the story of the flying bombs - V1
and V2, or Doodlebug and Rocket - the
unique, brilliantly conceived, indiscriminate
briefly lived weapons that were launched by
the Germans against London in a last ditch
orgy of violence designed to turn the tide
of the war.
Appealing for reminiscences and
photographs Bob was overwhelmed by the
response. Thousands remembered the
ungainly monsters that roared across the
skies like badly tuned motorbikes. Who
could forget that moment when the
engine cut out and the missile fell
silently to earth followed by a shattering
explosion?
Bob will be sharing his research and
reminiscences in a not to be missed
evening for everyone with an interest in
the Second World War Home Front.
Friendly meetings learning more about life in the 1940’s.
Meetings start at 8pm at Otford Memorial Hall, Nr. Sevenoaks.
Admission £3. Further details from Ian on 01732 452505 or
visit the Web Site at: www.1940.co.uk
3
From the Garage Floor
Greetings everyone. I should start by introducing myself.
My name is Dean - known as “Dino”. I have a garage in
Biggin Hill which specialises in classic and vintage vehicles;
I am a collector of vintage, classic and military cars which is
the culmination of a lifetime’s obsession. I have managed
to combine this with my passion for all things of the 1930’s
1940’s & 1950’s, having been into the ‘scene’ for years.
Advertise
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for as little
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Here I am at a show
in the summer with
my Rover.
This is the first in a new series
of vintage motoring articles I
will be writing for the magazine
in which I propose writing
articles with some hopefully
amusing anecdotes combined
with useful factual information.
I would welcome feedback
on the articles and would like
to hear about any topics you
would like covered.
Dr John Ray
Firstly wash the car thoroughly
to remove all road grime
and then take the car for a
drive to dry it off and warm
the oil. Whilst out it is worth
considering filling the tank with
petrol as this helps to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting from
the inside. The only problem
with filling the petrol is that
modern fuel goes off very
quickly so if the car is going to
be in storage for more than 4-6
months this step is probably
best avoided. Now is the time
to drain the engine oil and
refill with the correct grade.
It is important to change the
oil before putting the car in
storage as oil becomes acidic
with use and if left in the sump
Authoritative Books
The Battle of Britain,
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DINO’S
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We cater for all vehicles but specialise in:
Jeeps, Military, Vintage & Classics
Call or email to discuss your requirements
or to arrange a visit for a cup of tea and a
look at the problem.
The Night Blitz,
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Dean Whybra
Tel: 078 666 999 69
Email: [email protected]
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4
We’ve been very fortunate to
have an extended summer this
year but now as winter is well
on its way and many people
will putting their classic cars
into hibernation for the next
few months, I thought I would
begin by running through some
simple measures which if
carried out before taking your
car off the road, will ensure its
return is smoother.
5
over winter without being used,
could attack the internal engine
components. Remove the
spark plugs and squirt a small
amount of oil into each spark
plug hole. Turn the engine
over by a couple of revolutions
– preferably with the starting
handle or alternatively with the
ignition key. This will ensure
the pistons are coated with oil
over the winter. Replace the
plugs and tighten. Before we
leave the engine bay ensure
that the radiator is filled with
antifreeze at the correct
concentration. This can be as
high as a 50% solution but a
33%-40% solution should be
sufficient, unless you live in a
very cold area.
If only this were
mine!
Here I am with
Genevieve a few
weeks ago on the
London to Brighton
run.
Secondly put the car into
storage and then jack it up
and place axle stands, blocks
of wood or bricks under the
axle so that the tyres are kept
off the ground. When doing
this, obviously ensure that the
blocks are safe and sufficient
to support the vehicle for a
long period. It is important to
do this; as if the tyres are left
with the weight on them they
can develop flat spots. Fans
of the 1940’s will remember
seeing this being done in
propaganda films where cars
are shown being laid up for the
duration.
Thirdly the battery needs to
be disconnected to prevent
it discharging. If you have a
trickle charger which has a
maintenance position, this can
be connected and left in place
as it will simulate battery usage
and keep it charged. If you
only have a normal charger it
is better to remove the battery
and put it on charge every few
weeks to ensure the battery
remains charged and therefore
in good condition. Incidentally
if you remove the battery,
do not put it directly onto a
concrete floor. If it has to
stand on concrete, stand it on
a block of wood or a piece of
carpet – anything to keep it off
of the concrete. The reason for
this is that battery’s discharge
themselves when put onto
concrete.
and wedge the clutch pedal
down. This will prevent the
clutch from getting stuck on,
which can be a real nightmare
to free off so is best avoided if
at all possible.
Finally give the car a good
polish using wax polish - not
the liquid resin type and cover
the chrome with either a thin
layer of grease or thick layer
of polish. This will prevent
corrosion and also make
cleaning the car in spring
much easier. Now find some
old blankets or sheets and
cover the car. This will not only
protect it from dust and dirt but
also helps to prevent moisture
getting on the bodywork and
from getting in the engine.
This sounds like a lot of work
but most of it is quick and
Cartoon from 1939.
Fourthly lift the windscreen
wipers off the screen to
prevent the blades becoming
damaged. Then open a couple
of windows slightly to allow
air circulation. Now take the
handbrake off to prevent it
sticking on. You now need to
find a suitable piece of wood
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easy and will definitely pay
dividends when returning the
car to the road.
Next time I am going to
discuss lubricants, oil and
filters. With the variety on the
market these days this can
be quite a daunting decision
especially when you look at
some of the problems that
using the wrong oil can create.
I have an advert at the front of
this magazine so please feel
free to contact me if you have
any car related questions or
need a quote for any work.
Until then happy motoring
and remember during these
mornings with bright sun and
dusky evenings with low sun
that headlights are to help you
be seen and not just to see.
The Imperial War Museum
We visit the newly refurbished IWM in Lambeth to see how the
museum has changed now that the dust has settled on the
extensive £40 million building work.
The 100 year commemorations
of the start of the First World
War seems to have gripped the
country this year. And rightly so.
Not a town or village in the country
escaped the consequences
of this bitter battle of powerful
nations which wiped out a
generation of young men and
often entire communities. The
Imperial War Museums (IWM)
London headquarters marked
this with an ambitious £40 million
refurbishment which involved
major building works and a
complete update of their exhibition
areas. So vast a task in fact that
the museum was closed for a
major part of 2013 and at other
times only partially open.
Like many of the major museums
in London, entrance to the
IWM is free. As one of Britains
most important archives and
depositories of British warfare
history it is right that everyone
can have access to such a vast
treasure trove of information.
In the past there was a charge
but they are now part of a
scheme that sees them receive
funding based on the number
of visitors. They also apply for
grants and donations to keep the
museum running. Other parts
of the IWM such as the Cabinet
War Rooms, HMS Belfast and
Duxford do charge for admission.
The museum also runs regular
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exhibitions within the museum
which they make an extra charge
to view.
To make my trip representative of
many who will be wanting to see
the new museum I visited with my
family - my wife and two children
(aged 10 and 15) which allowed
me to get their perspective as
well as my own. We also attended
midweek during the half term
break so this was probably busier
than would be the case if you
visited out of school holidays.
There are several tube stations
close by the museum but waterloo
station is about a 10 minute walk
away and if you are on this line
and don’t mind the short walk
then its probably just as quick. It
also allowed me to pop into the
vintage clothes shop ‘Radio Days’
in Lower Marsh street on the way
home which is always a nice place
to browse.
The exterior of the IWM looks no
different. The great naval guns
almost guard the entrance and are
an irresistible photo opportunity
to the many tourists. On entering
the building it all changes. In the
past you went up the great steps
outside, entered on the ground
floor and were confronted by a
large exhibition space containing
some of the larger exhibits such
as vehicles, the V2 rocket and
some aeroplanes. Now you
enter and this ground floor has
effectively been removed. You
now look down at what was the
lower ground floor and travel down
a staircase to the main entrance
area. There is no doubt that
standing at the entrance looking
into the museum is an impressive
sight and is at the heart of the
structural changes to the building.
This main area takes up the full
height of the building and shows
off an impressive array of vehicles
and aeroplanes. As you look up
from this position you see each
floor of the museum which looks
down on this area. Many of the
floors having exhibits or vehicles
which are viewable from this
central location, all adding to the
initial impact that I’m sure the
designers and architects were
aiming for.
On entering the museum we
were giving a timed ticket for the
WW1 exhibition area. Since its
re-opening the museum has seen
an increase in visitors and the
WW1 exhibit was a major focus
of the refurbishment. The ticket
was not charged for but was
merely to manage the numbers
to the exhibit. Having an hour or
so before we could visit this we
opted to purchase tickets for the
Horrible Histories ‘spies’ exhibit
and see this first. (Family ticket
£15.60 on the day – 10% discount
if purchased on-line in advance).
The ‘Spies’ exhibit is aimed very
much at children and families but
did have information and some
items of interest for everyone.
It is heavy in the interactive
department with the usual flaps
to lift for answers to questions,
video screens and stamps to
The first glimpse of the museum from the entrance
Looking back at the front entrance stairway.
collect as you travel around. The
staff member at the entrance was
particularly engaging with the
children and they did enter with
some enthusiasm. The children
enjoyed the exhibit and the
interactive elements which did
include some clever interactive
technology. The down side being
that there was quite a queue at
some of these as only one or
two people could use them at
the same time. I personally felt
the exhibition lacked content and
was a little sparse considering
that this was an extra paid for
exhibit. I can’t see why this
should be singled out for extra
payment. Other than the ‘horrible
histories’ banner there was really
9
nothing extra and this is obviously
above all else a revenue raising
exercise. Would I recommend
this exhibition? It depends. If you
are taking children then they may
well enjoy it, mine certainly did.
If you are visiting for the day and
you have some spare time then
you may wish to take a look. Was
it good value for money? I don’t
think so. This exhibition will close
on 4 January so you have until
then to decide. Our visit here
lasted about an hour and we then
made our way back down stairs to
the WW1 exhibit.
Horrible History Spies Exhibition
The First World War exhibit was
busy which is why we were given
timed tickets and I’m sure the
crowds of people detracted slightly
from the enjoyment of our visit.
There are some clever interactive/
projected elements and some of
these do seem difficult to view
when there are a lot of people
about.
The ‘Spies’ exhibition seemed a hit with the children
Interactive screen were good but could only be used by 1 person.
As you would expect with this new
exhibition it is very professionally
laid out with large impressive
graphics and images. Rather like
a trip to Ikea there is a definite
route to follow and I found it a
little frustrating that so many items
were only really viewable by a
couple of people at a time. On
occasions I gave up as I needed
to catch up with my children who
were keen to push on.
The exhibition tends to be laid
out with cases containing smaller
items to view and read about in
front of an impressive backdrop
of larger items and graphics for
atmosphere. I did find it a little
cramped and wonder if space had
been a little wasted. Further on
you walk through a mock-up of
The ‘Spies’ exhibition seemed a little sparse
10
Due to the projected displays many of the exhibition areas
throughout the museum are quite dark. This is at the start of the
WW1 exhibit.
a trench which while it may have
ticked a box for the exhibition
designers it seemed pointless
as there was little to see there. A
missed opportunity to at least give
an impression of what life in the
trench was like.
Overall, there are some good
displays and some interesting
items to see but confess to being
a little disappointed. Perhaps my
expectations were too high but
I would have liked to see less of
the large professional graphic
panels and more of the artefacts
which you would hope to find in
a museum. Perhaps the curators
should have taken a trip to the
WW1 museums of France and
Belgium to see how well they have
done it.
An impressive backdrop in the WW1 exhibition but not so much
actually on display
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Walking around a museum is
a tiring process and no visit is
complete without a trip to the café
to rest the legs and enjoy a cup
of tea and perhaps a cake. The
downstairs café was rather busy
but they now have one upstairs as
well which was quieter. In fact we
found ourselves in the ‘overflow’
café which is only opened when
the museum is busy and despite
being a little bland did give us a
much needed seat together to
enjoy our refreshments. Perhaps
‘enjoy’ is a little too strong a word.
The café is a typical self-service
style affair. Hot food is available
downstairs but food here was
limited to sandwiches, cakes and
drinks. We ordered two teas, two
soft drinks and a small cake such
as a muffin each. Nothing special
and the tea was in a small paper
cup – more akin to what you
would ‘takeaway’ from a builder’s
cafe. I was at least hoping for
cups and saucers and possibly
even a tea pot. The real shock
came at the cost which was over
£23.00. Perhaps it’s a sign of my
advancing years but it seems
scandalous to me. I won’t be
visiting the café again and future
trips to the museum will definitely
involve a thermos flask and some
sandwiches in my bag.
Our next visit was to the ‘A
Family in Wartime’ WW2 exhibit.
Something I was looking forward
to seeing. This exhibition tells the
story of the Allpress family and
shows how an ordinary family
had to cope with everyday life. It
includes a model of their home,
some small room-set recreations
as well as photos and interviews.
There was also a wall of second
world war paintings which was
really nice to see and enjoy.
really added little to the learning
experience. The displays of
artefacts showed nothing
especially interesting and most
people with an interest in the
Second World War Home Front
will not learn anything new.
It didn’t take as long to pass
through, though as I mention, it
was nice to see the paintings on
display.
A room set from the Family in Wartime exhibition
This Make Do and Mend section did at least show some original
artefacts but could really have done with a little more.
I can’t say that there was anything
wrong with what was on display
other than there just wasn’t
enough of it. The exhibition was
full of big graphic panels and
wasted space. The room sets
were OK to look at and might
look nice in photographs but
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This review of our IWM visit is
far longer than I expected and
I’m going to cut it short without a
detailed description of the other
areas we visited. The floor/balcony
areas on each floor contain larger
items many of which are poorly
captioned if you can find the
caption at all. Display screens
are restrictive in the number of
people able to view and some
areas are very short of material.
The post war/cold war era for
example is lacking in any detail
at all. Some items of interest are
placed looking over the balcony
and are only really viewable from
the central (downstairs) area of
the building or from one of the
opposite balconies. Possibly a
nice effect as you walk into the
building but of no use to anyone
who actually wants to view the
items. There are a number of
shops throughout the museum
selling books, toys and the usual
assortment of museum gifts. The
shops have multiple entrances
and it was interesting to see how
often you ended up in a shop after
looking at exhibits. They were very
hard to avoid and I’m sure much
thought went into their placement
though their stock seemed far
less comprehensive than in the
past with fewer of the detailed
publications you would expect with
a museum of this calibre.
Overall, I was disappointed in
the ‘new’ museum. It’s not an
improvement on what was there
before and in many respects is
far worse. I think there has been
a ‘dumbing down’ of the content
and perhaps they are attempting
to compete with other tourist
attractions to get the people
through the doors. Even here
they lost some key elements
enjoyed by the previous museum.
My children were keen to visit
the WW2 air raid shelter – a
popular exhibit in the previous
museum where you could actually
experience a few minutes in a
shelter during a raid and emerge
to see the devastation afterwards
– an immersive experience which
gave visitors (young and old alike)
a real appreciation of the blitz. But
alas, this too has been removed. I
think they have missed the point of
what a museum such as the IWM
should be doing. We all now have
vast resources available to us.
Fantastic books covering in-depth
detail, Internet websites with video
and audio, television programmes
explaining the detail of so many
subjects. What does the IWM
have that these others don’t?
Artefacts that you can see for
yourself. Items that were actually
part of history. They should be
making the most of that. The IWM
The balconies overlooking the central area
have a huge archive of material
sitting in their warehouses which
never see the light of day. Items
that are actually a part of history.
I’ve nothing against interactive
screens and video displays. They
can be useful tools to capture the
enthusiasm of youngsters or to
teach aspects of history but please
put the display cases back into the
museum and lets see history in
front of us.
£40 million is a lot of money to
spend on refurbishing a museum
and its ironic that this week the
museum has announced it has a
£4 million shortfall in its budget.
Suggested cuts include the
closure and dispersal of its world
famous library and the loss of
80 jobs. A very great shame and
a missed opportunity. (IWM – if
youre reading this do get back
to me. I’d love to know what you
were thinking!).
Do take the opportunity to visit
the IWM in Lambeth but take
my advice and don’t visit in the
holidays and bring a packed lunch.
The main areas on each floor seem quite sparse.
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Photo Album
Original Period Photographs with a Story
V-BOMB
CHILD
VICTIM
(December 1944)
A British child, still
clasping her rag doll,
is carried to safety
from wreckage caused
by a German V-bomb
explosion in Southern
England recently.
Rescue squads, aided by
trained dogs, listening
apparatus and mobile
searchlight units, saved
most of the victims.
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15
Edmundo
Ros
by A.W.G.H.
“King of the Rumba”, one
time owner of a London
Dinner and Supper Club,
formally known as Regent
Street’s Coconut Grove Club,
musician, vocalist, arranger
and band leader Edmundo
Ros is the spotlight of this
months column.
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad
to a mother of Caribbean decent
and a father of Scottish decent
on 7th December 1910 Edmund
William Ross (aka Edmondo
Ros OBE) was the eldest of five
children having two sisters, one
brother and one half brother.
Edmund attended a number
of schools but was eventually
enrolled into a military academy.
It was during his time here
that he developed an interest
in music and started to play
the euphonium (a baritonevoiced brass horn). The family
moved to Caracas, Venezuela
in 1927 and spent ten years
there. The myth that Edmund
was Venezuelan was brought
on by the name he was known
by locally, ‘Edmundo Ros’. He
gained a scholarship from the
Venezuelan government and
from 1937 to 1942 studied at
the Royal Academy of Music in
London. His studies included
harmony, composition and
orchestration. It was at this
time that Edmund was also
percussionist and vocalist in
Don Marino Baretto’s band at
the Embassy Club in London.
During his 1938 visit to London
Fats Waller recorded a number
of sides with Edmundo as a
sideman.
Edmundo formed his own
Rumba Band in August 1940.
Working under the title of
Edmundo Ros and His Rumba
Band, they played regular spots
at the Coconut Grove Club and
entertained many of London’s
16
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high society. In 1941 Edmundo
Ros and His Rumba Band
recorded a number of sides for
the Parlophone record company.
His first side to go on sale was
“Los Hijos de Buda” which was
a very big hit for Edmundo and
the band. Edmundo’s various
bands were always popular
with the dancing public and the
music press and were based at
some of London’s hottest and
most popular clubs, the Coconut
Grove Club, the Bagatelle
Restaurant, the Cosmo Club
to name just a few. It was at
the Bagatelle Restaurant that
the future queen, Princess
Elizabeth, first danced to
Edmundo’s music which lead
to Edmundo and his Band
often being invited to play at
Buckingham Palace. In 1944
Edmundo moved to Decca
Records and stayed with them
until 1974, recording over eight
hundred sides.
At the age of 36 Edmundo had
not only built himself a grand
reputation as a musician,
arranger and band leader
but also as a business man.
Edmoundo now owned a club,
a dance school and an artist
agency. He also brought more
musicians in and his band grew
to sixteen players and was
renamed Edmundo Ros and
his Orchestra. With the selling
of over three million copies of
“The Wedding Samba” (78rpm)
in 1949 and over one million
copies of his album “Rhythms
of the South” in 1958 Edmundo
was at the height of his career.
With the arrival of 1951 and
Edmundo’s purse being full,
he bought the Coconut Grove
Club, renaming the club in 1964
to Edmundo Ros’s Dinner and
Supper Club. Although the club
was popular with the public, due
to the legalising of gambling it
finally closed its doors in 1965.
During the 1950s and 1960s The
Edmundo Ros Orchestra were
often featured on BBC radio and
these radio sessions continued
into the early 1970s with the
show “Radio Two Ballroom”.
During Edmundo’s seventh
tour of Japan there were some
internal problems with the
band’s Musicians’ Union shop
steward and upon their return to
the UK Edmundo destroyed all
of the orchestra’s arrangements,
organised an evening dinner and
announced the disbanding of the
orchestra.
Edmundo retired and moved to
Alicante, Spain. His last public
performance was on January
8th 1994. On October 21st
2011 Edmund William Ross
(Edmundo Ros) died just
before he reached the age of
101 years old.
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In 1965 Edmundo was
admitted to the Freedom of
the Worshipful Company
of Poulters making him
a Freeman of the City of
London. He was also a
member of three different
Freemason lodges (two in the
UK and one in Spain), was
made a Fellow of The Royal
Academy of Music in 1991
and at the age of 90 in 2000
he was named in the New
Year’s Honours list, being
made an Officer of the Order
of the British Empire (OBE).
The toast of London’s high
society Edmundo Ros was
quite rightly credited with
introducing the rumba and
samba dances and music
to the UK.
Mike Brown Reveals All
at Book Launch
The Launch of Mike Browns new book “CC41 Utility
Clothing” last week was not only a fascinating evening
but also a photo opportunity as many attending
were wearing original clothing. Here is a selection of
photographs taken on the night.
Visitors came
Mike Brown
dressed the pa
rt
book
launches his new
A well dresse
d
young lady ha
s her
copy!
Pre-presentation
refreshments
Cheers!
Someones
pleased to ge
t
their copy!
Mike also bring
s
quite a displa
y
to view
Checkin
g the C
eals all!
Mike Brown rev
C41 coa
t label
If you missed Mikes presentation he will be giving it again at the Royal Engineers Museum
Christmas event on 13 December (see diary pages for more information).
CC41 Utility Clothing is available from the Society Website.
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Not a complete
listing of
everything
that’s going on
but a few
events that may
be of interest to
members.
More are listed
on the website
at www.1940.
co.uk
Events Diary
28th November 2014
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Doodlebugs - V1s & V2s
Bob Ogley
Bob Ogley is well known in Kent
as an author, journalist, historian
and excellent speaker.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
29th November 2014
Otford 1940s Swing Dance 7-30
till Midnight.
Otford Village Memorial Hall,
Otford, Kent TN14 5PQ
Dress to Impress, 1940/1950s
civilian or allied uniform
Free tea, coffee & doughnuts,
Please bring your own drinks
Large dance floor and clothing
stalls
Tickets £7 on the door
Details: 07931 674 158 or www.
preservers of sound.com
13th - 14th December 2014
Make Do And Mend Christmas On
The Home Front - ME4 4UG
Royal Engineers Museum, Prince
Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent,
ME4 4UG
Visit Christmas at the Royal
Engineers Museum to find out
how Christmas time was
celebrated during the Second
World War. Watch the ‘Medway
Lindy Hoppers’ dancing in the
style of the 1940s, with the
opportunity to participate in the
fun. Observe demonstrations of
cooking with rationed food. Visit
‘Sapper Christmas’ and receive a
traditional toy (additional cost
£2.50). Make vintage home-made
decorations (additional cost
£2.50). Listen to the Brompton
22
Military Wives Choir singing
classic Christmas carols
(Saturday only). Have your hair
turned into a 1940s up-do hair
style or have a 1940’s makeover.
Listen to author and historian
Mike Brown talking about CC41
Utility clothing (Saturday) and
Wartime Christmas (Sunday) and
purchase one of his books to get
signed. Browse through our
in-house vintage craft market. Sip
mulled wine and eat mince pies
served from 1940’s NAAFI wagon.
Watch ARP warden in full action.
The 1940s Society will also have
a stand for the weekend so do
drop by and say hello if you are
coming along. More details at
www.re-museum.co.uk or on
01634 822839
19th December 2014
Timeless Retro Big Band Dance ME8 0BX
Big Band Dance featuring Roger
Luxton’s Dance Band. 7.00pm 10.45pm.Tickets £10 each or two
for £16.00. Price includes
Sausage and chip supper.
Venue: Rainham School for Girls,
Derwent Way, Rainham, Kent
ME8 0BX.
Details 07771 356 732
31st December 2014
THE BRIGHTON BOOGIE NEW
YEAR’S EVE SWING DANCE
Top Vintage DJs Slick Nick and
Spinnin’ Jim will be helping you to
swing into the New Year, playing
some of the finest swing music
from the 1930s and 40s.
There will be free tea, coffee, and
soft drinks so all you need to do is
bring along your own alcohol if
you’d like. Feel free to bring some
nibbles along, although they will
be providing a few tasty treats
too!Dress code: Smart vintage or
evening attire preferred
All this at our 1930s period venue,
Rottingdean Village Hall, Park
Road, Rottingdean, Brighton, BN2
7HL.Details at: dance@
brightonboogie.com
30th January 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
The influence of WW1 on the
home front of WW2
Mike Brown
Whilst Mike Brown is well known
as an author and expert on
Britains WW2 Home Front he has
also written a number of excellent
books on Britain during the First
World War. This evening he will
be discussing the significant
impact that the First World War
had on the thinking and
organisation of Britains Home
Front in World War Two.
Mike will be illustrating his talk
with both photographs and
artefacts. Come along for a
fascinating evening on a little
discussed or thought about
subject.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
14th March 2014
SCARBOROUGH 1940s HOME
FRONT CHARITY DANCE
The Grand Hotel St Nicholas Cliff
Scarborough YO11 2ET
Join us once again for our 4th
year in this lovely period ballroom
with fabulous sprung wooden
dance floor on our journey back to
the 1940s. Popular 1940s
entertainers Paul and Natasha
Harper.
Tickets £11 to include supper. All
profits to The Royal British
Legion.1940s dress appreciated
but not essential Please no
German or Axis uniforms.
(Accommodation available at the
hotel at reduced rate of £30 per
person bed & breakfast but must
be booked with Tracey at the
hotel quoting this dance) For
further details contact Linda on
01723 366123 or 07739 231053.
27th March 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Speaker to be Confirmed.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
22nd May 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Speaker to be Confirmed.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
31st July 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Speaker to be Confirmed.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
25th September 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Speaker to be Confirmed.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
27th November 2015
The 1940’s Society - Sevenoaks
Speaker to be Confirmed.
8pm at Otford Memorial Hall near
Sevenoaks, Kent.
Further details from Ian on 01732
452505 Admission £3
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The 1940’s Society
Membership Application 2015
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PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY IN CAPITALS
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(or £30.00 non UK) for 2014
(Please make cheques payable to “The 1940s Society”)
PLEASE RETURN TO:
The 1940s Society
Issue 88
90, Lennard Road, Dunton Green,
Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2UX
24