Put on your old kit bag and visit Milton Keynes Museum this weekend (September 3 & 4) as the history hub hosts its popular annual 40s weekend.
It's a brilliant celebration of the sights, sounds and flavours from a period dominated by World War II, and this year it's bigger, brasher and better than ever!
Historian and author Neil Storey will be recounting stories from the Battle of Britain, and three home guard battalions and the women's home guard auxiliaries will be at the venue.
The Rt Hon Winston Churchill PM is even visiting to rally support and will deliver some of his famous speeches.
A unique replica of Johnnie Johnson's Spitfire plane won't be flying on the day, but it will be in the museum grounds so you can take a closer look.
A good old sing-song did wonders to raise spirits during wartime, and Miss Lola Lamour will be singing the songs that were popular during the era – from Chattanooga Choo Choo to A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
She's not the only one who will be letting her voice loose though – more sing-a-longs and musical entertainment will come from Singing Major James Cooper Watson.
While the troops fought on the frontline, life for those at home was almost beyond recognition too – the Ministry of Food will show the reality of cooking on rations, while The Law at War will show what life was like for our village bobbies with their pop-up police station, and don't forget to pop in and visit Mrs Skivvy in the wartime garden.
An exhibition of wartime wedding dresses will provide glamour, and classic car lovers will be in luck with a parade of military and domestic vehicles from the 1940s.
With so much to see and do, you'll probably work up quite an appetite, but a visit to the Granary Tea Room will sort that out, with good old fashioned grub from the NAAFI. Those who fancy drinking something a little stronger than a cup of tea will be welcome to visit the Angel Inn where happiness will be served!
It's a whole lot of fun, but won't cost a penny more than the usual admission ticket prices – which also give you FREE entry for the following 12 months; adults £9, child £6, retired & unwaged £7.
A family ticket (admitting two adults and up to four children) is £26.
More information about the 40s Weekend and all the forthcoming attractions can be found on the museum's website www.mkmuseum.org.uk
Opening hours: 11am-4.30pm
Address: Milton Keynes Museum McConnell Drive
Wolverton Milton Keynes
Sat-Nav it: MK12 5EL
