stevel98

Simples, the Scottish saltire was on the Union Flag before the Irish red X.

A big thank you to all involved in the YWE 2015 show.. As regulars at W&P for many years from SW Scotland, we just can't get on with their new venue at Folkstone so we thought we give YWE a try this year and we were delighted. From the excellent and varied events in the arena to the myriad and variety of vehicles, re-enactors, stands and facilities we couldn't fault it and we had a Spitfire display on the Saturday as well. The WW1 trench attack was good to watch, but the honours there have to go to the Sergeant for his excellent articulation in explaining what was about to 'appen! In the words of the elderly gentleman standing beside me after 'is performance, "..thank you, Corporal!!" :laugh: Easy to get to, and ample parking too. We'll definately be back next year and recommending this to others, and hope YWE goes from strength to strength. Thanks again, and all the very best.. Steve and Michelle..

Move back to the Hop Farm with a bigger arena and a bank where spectators can actually spectate and take the weight off after walking miles. That's the best part of the old W&P. Pint of Spitfire, hog roast, sunshine, and the best panorama ever! I miss it so much..

We really miss Beltring for its layout, facilities and atmosphere and as a Scot doing a 1200 mile round trip every year to W&P, we were hugely disappointed last year at Folkstone. Its great for the vehicle owners but hard going for the public. We're very fit and walk loads, but without the benefit of the spectacular viewing bank that we had at Beltring, the show has lost out badly. When I eat my grub and swill my beer, I want to do it in the comfort of that bank, as I watch you guys showing off your awesome vehicles and also the battle re-enactments with an unparalleled view over a large area. Last year was a nightmare of painful standing and discomfort that we left earlier than out usual 6pm. Our usual routine is to scope the programme, decide what we want to see and plan our walks around that. You have to do this to get the benefit of the whole show over the two days we visit. This year all we heard was the excitement over seeded grass and better bog management, but nothing about accommodating the spectators better. I know some owners will say "..so what" and I can appreciate that, after all its your time to meet your buddies, but I know that the bank is sorely missed. Its a big event in sheer size and the arena needs to be much, much, bigger and with the same viewing as we had at Beltring. That has to No.1. Next year we'll be at Yorkshire unless we see a major change at Folkstone.

That's incredible.. If your standing like last year, only the front two rows can see anything, compare that with amount of spectators at Beltring all getting a superb view of the proceedings in comfort. Yes, decent bogs are important, but the one thing that entertains the paying masses and makes them come back for more was the events field. Lose them for poor viewing reasons and your back to what W&P originally was, (..and no disrespect intended here, as if I lived down south I would be one too!), a boys club. From the top of the Beltring hill, I had a grandstand view like no other event offered, of the field, vehicles coming and going, the 2nd Battle Group et al, and beyond. Comparing my photys from Beltring to last year you can see the differences easily.

Last year I was emailling Rex regarding the construction of a spectator bank like what there was at Beltring. He said that he recognised the importance of this and it was on the cards for 2014 and was in discussion with the local farmer/landowner type about building one. So what happened?

Think I'll give it a miss then.. :-( No bank means no spectator view of the proceedings, which is why I've made a regular 1000 mile trip for the past 20 odd years. There is so much to see and do, but when taking the weight off and having a refreshment, I want to watch events, not sit on a patio chair staring at a catering van. Couldn't see a thing last year.. Because we couldn't watch the arena, we spent more time scoping your vehicles and talking to owners, which was nice, but the size of the place makes it really hard going and you need that break. The size and angle of the bank and the soft grass at Beltring was totally the business for us spectators viewing the whole place. That has to be the most important facility!

Well? So whats the latest? Did anyone go to the open day? What's new? Is there a spectator bank? Cheers..

Has a spectator bank been built yet? Rex Cadman hinted to me last year that this was on the cards for 2014. At Beltring, we would spend a lot of time on the bank watching the displays (close to the catering and beer too!), but last year it was impossible to relax and get a good view as well. Really missed the The Hop Farms panoramic viewing facility last year..

Edited

Edited

Cheers, that explains it well.

Hi, Can anyone please answer this one? Does the M72 need to be deactivated formally?

Sorry for the late intro.. Thought I had done this already. :embarrassed: I'm Steve, I have an '87 Corvette bought because of the sky high prices for Jeeps! However the bug is still biting and every (12 so far) W&P event I visit, it bites all the more! Its great to see all the variety of vehicles at events and total respect to the effort and dosh invested to keep them alive. My W&P favourite? That mad Eastern bloc bulldozer with the truck cab, going like the clappers around the arena several years ago. :shocked: Cheers! Steve

We've been regular attendees from Glasgow for the last 13 years, purely as spectators.. We loved Beltring, but it did seem to be scaling down a bit since the wet one in 2007, especially our favourite, Rolling Thunders arena battles and also the mass US/German battles Nevertheless, we still love the event and base our whole years holidays etc around it. This year was obviously a suck-it-and-see. Can't speak directly for the exhibitors, re-enactors and traders, but from our point of view, access was as good as ever to most areas, as was the trade stand area. Grub/beer good, don't mind the prices, as we're only there the one day (..if we lived closer, we'd be MV owners and more involved), so for a first go at a new site it was an excellent effort. Well done all round.. Two major gripes though... Arena viewing was absolutely hopeless and very uncomfortable. The old bank was sorely missed as it afforded a panoramic view and in total comfort to take the weight off our feet and relax as we ate and drank (..life doesn't get much better than a pint of Spitfire in one hand and a hogroast roll in the other kicking back on the hill watching the various events.. our favourite!!) If anything puts us off the W&P show, it'll be the lack of the bank or similar. Toilets.. Don't use them much, but on the occasions we did, they were disgusting! What kind of people crap on the pan, seat, walls, cistern and floors? But thats really the peoples fault and not the organisers. Unreal! The ladies lavs fared no better so I'm told. All in all we did enjoy the day very much, but please sort out the arena viewing. My feet were killing me trying to stand and watch the goings-on and had to give in on many occasions. Steve and Michelle

Cheers.. Might just take you up on that. This year we're accompanied by my son as a birthday treat (he's 31, but just a big kid like his Dad!).

Hi.. Must say we're looking forward to our 13th visit to W&P. It did seem to be getting a little less entertaining in the re-enactment side of things in the arena in recent years and we just put it down to the credit crunch and the cost of fuel etc, but still wouldn't miss it for anything even with the 1100 mile round trip and accommodation expense. We're hoping that the new venue will revitalise the show. Hadn't considered that things weren't working out so well between the W&P team and the Hop Farm. My friends and colleagues up here in SW Scotland must be heartily sick of hearing me rant on about this event, and how they're missing out by not paying a visit. The sheer number and variety of vehicle there just blows me away every time. Some of your vehicles are amazing and I can only imagine the level of commitment you guys have to keep them running and in use. Just want to say thanks to one and all for making this event so entertaining.. Yes, even after struggling though the mud back in 2007 to get more pix and videos!! Big change from the previous years dust! Most awesome vehicle? Has to be that Russian tracked bulldozer that was let loose in the arena a few years ago. Never seen a dozer run so fast before.. We're Steve and Michelle and we love all MV's especially Russian tanks and H1's! Roll on July!

Hi.. Just wanted to say hello and look forward to some interesting reading.. I've been a fan of all things automotive for years, and lattery looking towards military vehicles largely influenced by the way my mind goes into meltdown each year at W&P! We don't own one at present as we have a Corvette that we enjoy, but I really hope that will change someday. Spent ages rebuilding a Canberra cockpit at a small museum we helped to run next to Dundonald Airfield (1441 Combined Ops). I also spent time helping with airsoft skirmish games and still have my Vietnam loadout and hardware. Acquiring this kit led me to visit W&P ten years ago, and that was that! Never missed an event since! I wish we had a similar event this far north! All the very best, Steve.