Welshpool going back to the 1940’s
The town’s long summer of weekend events will reach a nostalgic crescendo with a varied programme of attractions to suit most members of the family.
As the weekend draws closer, organiser Alan Crowe said that it will put Welshpool not only in the national spotlight, but promote the town to an overseas audience.
“I have already met a lady who has travelled over from the USA just for this weekend,” he said. “It promises to be a great time so I encourage the entire town to put on a warm welcome for our visitors.”
The weekend will get underway on Friday with the Spirit of Blitz variety show in the Town Hall at 2pm (doors open 1.30pm). This will feature Andy Eastwood, Maggie o Hara and Pete Lindup. Admission is £6 on the door.
This is followed by a sold out dinner in the Baytree Tearooms.
On Saturday, ‘Winston Churchill’ himself will declare the weekend open at 11am at the back of the Town Hall before heading to recruit public to work for the war effort at Step Change Personnel in Hopkins Passage at 11.30am.
The Monkey Puzzle cafe will take on a French persona for the weekend as Cafe Renee with John Hughes and Harmony Belle entertaining outside during the day. The Porthywaen Band will perform in Hall St between 1pm-2pm. Also entertaining in Hall Street will be the George Formby Experience.
Vintage traders, craft stalls, ex-service charities and military displays will be upstairs in the town hall from 10am- 4pm along with a vintage hairdresser and a talk on 20th century military installations in Mid Wales at 11am.
The Corn Exchange will feature a display of 1940s memorabilia and scenarios. A 1940s theme lunch will be served in the Methodist Church Schoolroom from 11am-2pm and 1940s afternoon teas in the Baytree Tea Rooms. A 1940s Bingo will be held in the Corn Exchange at 3pm.
Throughout the day, a Cookery, Craft and Garden Show will be held in New Street United Church where there will also be a fun dog show with classes - Best dog dressed for combat, Best dressed Evacuee Dog, Best Dressed Victory or Patriotic Dog. Entries taken on the day.
A Blitz Ball will be held on Saturday night in the Town Hall featuring the nine-piece Ashby Little Big Band plus dance instruction from Barefootin. Tickets are available from Welshpool Jewellers and The Hafren or pay on door.
On Sunday, the Corn Exchange will open for displays whilst Pete Wayre, Bluebird Belles female trio and the six-piece Glen Miller Band Moonlight Serenade will be entertaining in Hall Street.
A Spitfire aeroplane will be on static display on the short stay carpark at the back of the Town Hall along with military vehicles, vintage cars and stalls.
A Blessing of the Wargraves will take place at the cenotaph at 1.30pm and a Miss Welshpool 1940s pageant will be held at 2.30pm in Hall Street. The closing ceremony will take place in Hall Street at 5pm.
The weekend will close with a concert in the Methodist Church at 7.30pm featuring the Shawbury Military Wives Choir, Eleri Wilson Rebe Melia, Martin Barry and Community Uke. Tickets are £6 from Welshpool Jewellers or pay on door.
It is hoped that the towns veterans and land girls will be present during the weekend. Standard bearers of local ex-service organisations are invited to attend the Blessing of War Graves and Closing ceremonies on the Sunday.
Businesses are encouraged to decorate their windows and premises.
“By all playing a small part a great event can be staged thus attracting visitors and boosting the local economy,” said Mr Crowe.
For more details visit the Facebook page - Welshpool Forties Weekend or call 07782 166342.
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