Major celebration of Battle of Britain 70th anniversary
News article
Battle stations
A flypast by Spitfires and Hurricanes, WW2 battle re-enactments, a George Formby soundalike…Fylde is scrambling for a major celebratory weekend of the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.
The area’s Battle of Britain weekend, on the Green at Lytham, will be launched on Friday 20 August with a Big Band Dance at the Lowther Pavilion in Lytham.
It will continue on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
International singing star Lesley Garrett will perform on the Green on Saturday evening.
Attractions of the weekend include:
• Spitfires and Hurricanes – a Sunday afternoon flypast by the RAF.
• A military and historic vehicle procession.
• Replica Spitfires.
• Assault course and rifle range; military drills for children; dig for victory sessions; a camp at which people will spend the weekend living as they would have done in the 1940s.
• Make do and mend sessions; beat-the-bomb sessions, re-enactments of battles between the Allies and Germans and between Soviets and Germans.
Lytham St Annes had a close connection to the war effort. Townspeople raised £212 (£735,000 in today’s money) to buy their own Spitfire. Called the “Lytham St Annes” it was piloted by Sergeant Alan Lever-Ridings. Sergeant Lever-Ridings lost his life when the plane was shot down over Morlaix, France.
Ann Selka, Sergeant Lever-Ridings’s niece, has been invited to give an address at a service on the Green on noon on Sunday.
Councillor Sue Fazackerley, Fylde Council Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: “The airmen and soldiers of that era were people of exceptional braveness – and their sacrifices should be remembered.
“As children we thrilled to stories of their heroism. We welcome this opportunity to celebrate the victory and the part played by the people of Lytham St Annes in the final outcome.
“Above all, it will be one of the largest family days out that the area has seen.”
Itinerary
Saturday 21 Aug
10am. Military and historic vehicle procession. Departs Lytham for St Annes and then returns.
All day. Replica Spitfires.
All day. Vehicle displays and living history encampments.
All day. Information stalls, including RAFA, mayoral charities.
10am-5pm. Home front, assault course, rifle range.
10am. Blast From the Past.
10.30am. Make Do and Mend.
10.30am. Katie Spitfire.
11am. George Formby.
11am. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
11.30pm. Danger From Above. Beat the Bomb.
Noon. Educational talk, soldier and equipment.
Noon. Blast From the Past.
12.30. Make Do and Mend.
1pm. Dig for Victory.
1.30pm. Eastern Front Battle. Russians V Germans.
1.30pm. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
2pm. George Formby.
2.30pm. Make Do and Mend.
2.30pm. Katie Spitfire.
3pm. Western Front Battle. Allies V Germany.
3pm. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
3.30pm. Blast From the Past.
3.30pm. Dig for Victory.
4pm. Danger From Above. Beat the Bomb.
Evening, Lytham Proms with Lesley Garrett and Manchester Camerata.
Sunday 22 Aug
10am. Military and historic vehicle procession. Departs Lytham for St Annes and then returns.
All day. Replica Spitfires.
All day. Vehicle displays and living history encampments.
All day. Information stalls, including RAFA, mayoral charities.
10am-5pm. Home front, assault course, rifle range.
10am. Blast From the Past.
10.30am. Make Do and Mend.
10.30am. Katie Spitfire.
11am. George Formby.
11am. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
11.30pm. Danger From Above. Beat the Bomb.
Noon. Open-air Battle of Britain commemoration service. Stage on Lytham Green. With planned address by Ann Selka, niece of Sergeant Alan Lever-Ridings, the pilot who lost his life in June 1942 after his Spitfire – paid for by the people of Lytham St Annes – was shot down over France.
Noon. Educational talk, soldier and equipment.
Noon. Blast From the Past.
12.30. Make Do and Mend.
1pm. Dig for Victory.
1.30pm. Eastern Front Battle. Russians V Germans.
1.30pm. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
2pm. Spitfire and Hurricane flypast.
2pm. George Formby.
2.30pm. Make Do and Mend.
2.30pm. Katie Spitfire.
3pm. Western Front Battle. Allies V Germany.
3pm. Attenshun! Children’s Drill.
3.30pm. Blast From the Past.
3.30pm. Dig for Victory.
4pm. Danger From Above. Beat the Bomb.
Comments
This page doesn't have any comments yet. Be the first to comment by filling out the form below!
