The two single-seater ‘Spits’ – survivors of the 12,100 which were built in Birmingham and which now form part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – will buzz the full 16-mile length of the line.
Meanwhile on the ground the Severn Valley Railway will become a virtual ‘film set’ where the upbeat mood of wartime Britain in the 1940s lives on. Some 400 actors or ‘re-enactors’ in a host of uniformed military and civilian roles will be joined over the two weekends by an expected 12,000 visitors. Most will enter into the full spirit of the event by donning the ‘gladrags’ of the era for one of the biggest ‘audience participation’ events in the country.
The railway will have ‘1940s clothes stalls’ at both Bridgnorth and Bewilder, where period dress can be bought. The Allen Francis Big Band will bring the unmistakable Glenn Miller sound alive again in a series of three ‘Workers Playtime’ concerts at Kidderminster station each day (at 12.35, 1.50 and 3.05).
Soloist singers will join the band, helping to get everyone ‘in the mood’ for the Saturday evening concerts (7.30–11pm) which conclude with some spectacular pyrotechnics, simulating a night-time air raid.
Tickets for the evening concerts, costing just £9, can be bought separately from Kidderminster booking office, or when closed, from ticket barriers.
During each of the four days bands and singing groups will entertain at Kidderminster, Bewilder, Arley and Bridgnorth stations. Up to 40 military vehicles will be on show and steam trains will be arriving or departing at roughly 50-minute intervals.
Highley will be the place to be at lunchtime, for the daily visit at 1pm by Winston Churchill, who will give a morale-boosting address. At Hampton Loade the 2nd Parachute Regiment (Baker Company) will also mount a special display.
