Weekend of vintage fun lined up for Barnard Castle

A Spitfire fly over, re-enactment groups and vintage wartime music are among the many events people can look forward to as a 1940s weekend gets underway in Barnard Castle.

Hosted by Barnard Castle Town Council, the weekend's activities are spread across the town, from the Hub through to the Morritt Hotel.

Following on from a successful event last year, the 1940s festival has grown substantially this year and even bigger visitor numbers are expected.

Deputy town clerk Jane Woodward said as many as 500 people were at activities on Scar Top at any one time in 2016.

Activities begin on Friday, June 23, with the annual Teesdale Aviation Day service at the Galgate Green aviation memorial, at 10.30am for an 11am start.

The solemn event pays tribute to the many airmen who lost their lives while flying over Teesdale.

The evening takes a more festive atmosphere at the Hub where the sensational Vintage Belles take to the stage at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available at the town council office.

This seven member, all female vocal group entertain with songs with a twist of swing, boogie woogie and jazz, and draw inspiration from acts such as the Andrews Sisters and Puppini Sisters.

They sing both the famous classics such as the lively Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B and Beat Me Daddy (Eight to the Bar), to the more seductive Sway and Java Jive.

They have also taken a number of modern songs and reworked them in the swing style, including their version of the well known Ace of Spades originally performed by Motorhead.

The Saturday begins with a flag raising ceremony at Scar Top followed all day by re-enactment groups and displays along with traditional games in the Woodleigh gardens.

Vintage vehicles will be on display on the market cobbles.

Ms Woodward said: “In terms of vehicles that are on the cobbles, we have several Jeeps, Bedford and Dodge Military Trucks, as well as a 1937 RAF Staff Car and 1933 Austin Saloon. Alongside these, there will be a German parachute mine defusing demonstration and display, performed by WW2 Combined Operations – HMS Vernon.”

A vintage fair and victory tea room will be available in the Methodist Church Hall, while a display of 1940s memorabilia will be exhibited in the entrance to the Methodist church.

From 12.30pm, people can visit Galgate Greens to experience a vintage wedding breakfast and see the floral displays.

This is followed at 1pm with a book signing at Woodleigh's Dawson Room by author Suzie Henderson whose work The Beauty Shop is based on the remarkable story of the Guinea Pig Club.

World War Two Operations, a living history group, will be active in the Dawson Room throughout the day.

Entertainment for the day includes Colin Bourdiec, aka George Formby, and the Tain’t What You Duo performing from 1030am at the Woodleigh performance area.

Later, at 4pm, people are invited to join in with campfire songs also at the performance area.

Saturday wraps up with a 1940s dance at St Mary’s Parish Hall at 7.30pm with Damaris Jean and Ragtime Rewind Swing and Blues Band.

Damaris Jean performs songs from the 1940s through to the 1960s, having a special love for vintage blues, such as those sung by Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald

Her performance takes listeners from the 1940s and the Blitz, with her tribute to Vera Lynn, through to the 1950s with Connie Frances and Doris Day, and up to the swinging 60s with Dusty Springfield and Mama Cass.

With her mellow voice and warm friendly style her performances are enjoyed by all vintage lovers.

The excitement continues on on Sunday with the same re-enactment groups at Scar Top and on the cobbles and vintage games.

An addition is a classic coach trip and morning refreshments from Scar Top to the Morritt Hotel, Great Bridge, at 10am.

On its return at 1.30pm, the classic coach will be doing tours of the town every 30 minutes.

A parade and act of remembrance will take place at The Bowes Museum Park with uniformed re-enactors performing the parade.

They will assemble from 10.30am with the act of remembrance taking place at 11am.

A tribute to evacuees event will take place at the museum at 1pm followed by a Dig for Victory demonstration by the Veg Out in Barney group.

A crowd favourite is a fashion parade by M&Co at Scar Top at 2pm.

The weekend culminates at 3.30pm with a flag lowering ceremony, also at Scar Top.