| Date: 27/28 October Full
Day 11.00am-5.00pm
Late Entry 2.30pm-5.00pm
October
Re-Creation of WWII life
Kentwell
Hall , Long Melford, Suffolk.
The Camp
Kentwell Park became a Transit Camp which at busy times (like immediately
before D Day) housed thousands of troops. At other times it might
house many fewer and seem almost deserted. Troops on the Park seldom
vsiited the Hall but used some of the outbuildings, such as the
Moat House as an Armoury and the Stables as a Vehicle Maintenance
Depot. Representatives of some of these Troops visiting the Hall
or its outbuildings may be encountered. Also necessary Sentries
Guarding the Hall and checking for undesirables.
The Garrison
The Camp was managed by a small permanent Garrison of about 8 or
9 under a Colonel. They took over the main rooms as offices and
some had bedrooms in the Hall. The Hall also acted as the Officers'
Mess for Officers stationed on the Park. The Re-Creation seeks to
re-create the Garrison and its activities. With the Miliitary in
control Military Business with defaulters' parades, exercises and
the like takes centre stage.
Mr & Mrs Starkie
Bence
They were permitted to remain at the Hall and have the use of one
or two rooms, while the Military occupied the rest. Mrs Starkie
Bence has few staff left and her cook has to share the Kitchen and
cooking with the Garrison's cook, not always comfortably. She still
entertains friends in her Quarters and has some (reduced) staff.
There may be several other civilians of one sort or another to be
encountered about the Grounds.
The Home Guard
The Home Guard will be present but not in the same great numbers
as at our other WWII events.
Fundraising
More perhaps for morale than effective raising of money fundraising
was encouraged throughout the War to finance Spitfires (the Spitfire
fund) or Warships (War Weapons Week). Now the Miliitary are in occupation
Mrs Starkie Bence hosts her fundraising by permission of and in
conjunction with the Colonel. At this time it is a series of lectures
on a number of topics which will inform the locals about matters
which will assist their own safety.
Vehicles
There may be a number of military vehicles in addition to Mr Starkie
Bence's Rolls Royce (his pride and joy) and Mrs Starkie Bence's
Lanchester, appropriately adapted for wartime use.
Civil Defence
and Civilian Service
There may be Landgirls working on the Farm with the Heavy Horses,
the WVS providing endless tea, the Auxiliary Fire Service with their
fire engines on practice and likewise ARP wardens insisting on regular
practices.
Full Day: Adult, £8.50,
Child, £6.25, Pensioner £7.50
Late Entry: Adult, £7.15,
Child, £4.60, Pensioner £6.15
Contact Kentwell
Hall
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