Could 2025 be the final Welshpool 1940s Weekend?

One of Welshpool’s biggest events that brings hundreds of people into the town every year could be organising its final edition this year, it has been revealed.

The annual Welshpool 1940s Weekend has proved to be a big hit since it was first held in 2015, with the town’s trip back in time attracting visitors from across the UK.

But at last night’s Town Council Events and Tourism Committee meeting, councillors revealed that they were hearing chatter that this could well be the final time it will happen.

The committee agreed unanimously to let the organisers have the Town Hall for free, to help with costs, with former Mayor Cllr Julie Arnold saying: “It brings so much trade and happiness into the town.”

After the meeting, we put the question to lead organiser, Alan Crowe, who told us: “At present the focus is on delivering this year’s event.

“We have a depleted committee and are seeking more members or volunteers to assist with fundraisers or on the actual weekend.

“It takes over £20,000 to stage the weekend and with some support from Welshpool Town Council and the occasional small grant we have to raise the monies ourselves, which takes up most of our time which should be used making the show better.

“Local businesses are asked to support the event. Obviously not every business will benefit directly but if it’s good for the town then it’s good for everyone.

“As one former business person said after last year’s event: ‘there was more people in the town centre on the Saturday than all of the other Saturdays in the year added together ‘.

“I sincerely hope that it carries on for more years even if someone else takes over the helm. The town needs events like this to boost the economy but they also need funding.”

The fundraising continues this weekend

VE VJ CONCERT

Stars from Britain’s Got Talent, Stefan & Denise, will be headlining a concert along with Porthywaen Silver Band at the Methodist Church, Welshpool, on Saturday night.

The blind couple made a major impact with the judges and audiences alike when they appeared on the show in 2014 singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow for their audition and You’ll Never Walk Alone in the semi-finals.

Tickets are £10 and available in advance from Welshpool Jewellers and Riffels, or pay on the door.

Refreshments will be available in the interval. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Scheduled to end at 10.15pm.

History of the 1940s Weekend

Back in 2004, Freda Davies and Mr Crowe organised the Welshpool Winter Festival with a 1940s theme on behalf of the then Welshpool Partnership.

This proved highly successful and a smaller event was held in 2005 to mark the 60^th Anniversary of VE/VJ Day.

In 2015 as part of the 70^th Anniversary of VE/VJ Day, Mr Crowe organised another 1940s day as part of a programme of events to mark the occasion. It was put to him that the 40s day was better than a number of first events of many similar ones that have been going for a number of years. Taking this on board, without any funding or major support he organised a significantly bigger and better 1940s weekend in 2016 which grows bigger, better and stronger year by year.

Having taken it as far as he could, he recruited the different helpers and supporters of the event to form a committee to help with the general organising of the event and the fundraising activities that are staged to make the main weekend happen.