Deuceman

Degsy, M&S magic knickers from the lingerie section! I thought they were standard Welsh hill farmer issue? Normally I wear them just for the thrill and don't tell anyone, but this time they had a real job to do. Well, you did ask? You should try them, they'll knock years off of your waistline. I could even see them become a branded HMVF item as long as the embroidered letters are carefully positioned so as not to chaff!!

With January 1st being the 60th anniversary of the start of compulsory post war National Service, I invite anyone interested in marking this anniversary, to come along to the Great Central Railway in Loughborough on Sunday January 4th, wear period uniform and travel on period trains through period stations. The GCR is a restored main line double track railway which is preserved to represent the glory days of Britain's steam powered railway i.e. the 1950's. Whilst one station is preserved in the Edwardian era and another as a wartime station, both are perfectly applicable for a 1950's recreation as at that time many stations had hardly changed since they were built. This isn't an official railway event, it isn't a war on the line event and it isn't even an event as such - it merely a suggested opportunity to dig out your battle dress and get together out of season but in suitable surroundings where for once your BD will be needed to keep out the chill! I suggest army kit bags and suitcases should be the order of the day rather than weapons and tin helmets, after all, "there isn't a war on"!! If you want to join in you will have to buy your own tickets to travel on the trains just like anyone else, but it would be a great way to blow away the Christmas excesses and mark an important day in history. If period vehicle owners want to use it as an excuse to join in, what the heck, the more the merrier! See period picture below as a taster......

Tickley throat Jack? Hair stuck in it maybe? Nothing a good barber (or sheep shearer) couldn't sort for you old bean!! You'll be surprised to know that I'm actually joining Keith Brigstock and The Garrison boys for a day this weekend. I figured well if you are going to cast off a wonderfully tailored US Army four pocket tunic and wear that god awful hairy mary serge and look like a sack of sh1t tied in the middle, why not go for broke and do it on a Saturday in August - I must be mad!! Anyway, I digress, but as January 1st next year is the 60th anniversary of the start of compulsory post war National Service I thought it would be nice to have a set of 49 pattern BD to use with the WW2 boots and gaitors to represent the post war look, even though I'd choose to do mine as a TA unit (Royal Wilts Yeomanry) which both my father (1958-71)and I served in (1995-98). The 49 pattern was better tailored than the wartime patterns and did give you a fair shot at looking half decent in it although a great physique helps! I am trying to persuade my locale steam railway The Great Central Railway in Leicestershire to theme their annual New Years steam weekend (3/4 Jan) around the 60th anniversary, as the railway is restored and equipped pretty much to represent a 1950's main line and as such is much better suited to a National Service portrayal than a WW2 one, which it does each year with lots of bangs and smoke but little in the way of an 'air of authenticity'. I do also resent being asked by a 14 year old lad with an SLR and a modern combat jacket to show my ID card! I am probably the only one however who gets bothered about the fact that the carriages are all 1950's and 60's varieties and being pulled by locos either built post war or wearing post war liveries - akin to being dressed as 506th PIR and piling into a Land Rover! This year they even camouflaged a 1950's BR diesel unit, albeit tongue in cheek!! Even if the railway don't decide to capitalise on the obvious opportunity that this presents, I might just go along anyway in uniform and seek to persuade others to do likewise just for the sake of doing something a bit different to blow away the Christmas cobwebs - I'll post a separate note to that effect elsewhere. The other thing to be aware of, is that whilst the WW2 vets are fast dwindling, the National Service vets are still around in greater numbers and due to the fact that NS didn't finish until 1963 will be so for a few years yet. Having said all of that, I will not be tempted into buying a Bedford RL, Morris Commercial or Austin Champ to compete the ensemble, I'm quite content with the thought of portraying a travelling soldier somewhere in England in the 1950's/early 60's as per the image attached. Thanks to those that have replied, especially Andy with the size details. I tried Sabre but they had nothing that big. Makes me appreciate how lucky I was to find the Size 18 40 pattern BD blouse in a Reading charity shop in the early 90's! It was too big for me then, but has shrunk considerably since then thru being hung up and is now quite snug!

Thanks Gents, If you could measure the jacket that would be great - it should have a label inside and if they are sized as per 40 pattern I reckon I need a size 17 or 18. Thanks for the Sabre tip, I have emailed them enquiring as well. Off now for my five mile hike with bergen full of old spanners so that I can fit into whatever I find!! Roly poly out!

Looking for a good set of 49 pattern BD and an authentic shirt. Must be 49 pattern - not looking for wartime. Vital statistics: Waist 36" Chest 42-44" Height 5'11" Shirt 16.5" Military haircut, unlike some............... :-) Looking to portray Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry in the 1950's (my old TA unit in the 1980's), already have my pitchfork! If you can assist please email me on gmc353@mac.com Thanks in advance.

In what is now becoming an annual event, the Trent Valley area of the MVT (TVMVT) are again working alongside and in support of the Newark branch of the Royal British Legion, to help them meet their target for the Poppy Appeal 2008. Building on the success of last year, when we added over £1200.00 to the Newark branch's target busting total of over £30k, we would very much like to hear from people who wish to support the RBL and take part in the display of MV's that will take place in Newark market place. Our plans are for displays on the three collecting Saturdays before Remembrance Sunday. These being; Saturday 25th October Saturday 1st November Saturday 8th November As per 2007, on the morning of each day, vehicles will muster on the outskirts of town, and convoy in to the Market Square, something that is both impressive for the public, and great fun for the participants! Remaining on static display until late in the afternoon, the vehicles will then convoy out of the Square, and through town to the muster point. Again a great spectacle. This year, we hope to have some participation from our Honorary Chairman, Patrick Mercer MP, one time Lieutenant Colonel with 25 years in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment and former Shadow Minister for Homeland Security under David Cameron. If you would like to take part, please respond to this posting or contact me via the TVMVT website http://www.tvmvt.co.uk outlining what vehicle you would like to bring, and, if not all, which of the three days you would be available. Even if you don't have a vehicle to bring, you can still take part helping out with collecting, and marshalling vehicles - just let us know as above. Ditto you do not have to be a member of the TVMVT to participate, but you do need to be in the MVT to be covered by the MVT liability insurance. Any queries, again contact me via the website. As an incentive, last year we had free coffees provided all day courtesy of Starbucks (whose shop we park in front of) and bacon rolls from the local delicatessen. I know our fearless Area Sec Simon Morris, with the whiff of freshly cooked bacon in his nostrils, will be working hard to agree the same again this year! Additionally, we are trying to sort out some free or discounted transport for any larger/heavier vehicles prepared to attend, so don't hold back due to lack of transport as we might be able to assist. Detailed mission orders will be circulated to registered participants closer to the time, so please register your interest as soon as possible, and put the dates in your diaries. Attached are some pictures of last year's third Saturday finale when we mustered 11 vehicles four of which were armoured. Neil Stevens

Now that Jack has shed the "Lovejoy" look for something less rustic, I was taken aback last week at Upottery to be met by Dr Strangelove's twin......

I was only telling Jack last week that he is one of society's "mini-pillars" and now that fact has been officially recognised! Not only that, but it has been done publicly and in a way that makes Jack and HMVF's critics sound even more out of step than they do anyway. Jack, this is a thoroughly deserved award for a job very well done - congratulations. I trust you'll use the enormous purse wisely - maybe a haircut or a new neckerchief?

Fair point Degsy but I appreciate your enthusiasm mate!!

It's a difficult one to call so no point in me telling it any other way than how it is. Budget is finite and some vehicles will be more appropriate than others so the holder of the budget has the discretion. As for the Jeep/Champ comment it is of course a deadly serious comment depending upon how you interpret it

I am working with an RAF base in the East Midlands to provide some suitable vehicles and uniformed personnel for their annual Summer Ball on Friday June 27th. If you have a vehicle that is appropriate to any of the 90 years of the RAF or the US 9th Troop Carrier Command during WW2, and would like to be considered, please drop me a line at neilstevens437@mac.com Please advise where you live, what petrol cost you would want re-imbursed, the No's in your party and if you would want an o/n camping pitch. Food and drink will be provided. Selection of vehicles is at the discretion of the organisers and dependent upon budget. Many thanks, Neil Stevens

B-17 Tour Information c/o http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news.htm The Collings Foundation B-17G Nine-O-Nine, 44-83575 (N93012), is touring again. Tour dates with the B-17, B-24, B-25, and, new for 2008, a P-51C, for 2008 are posted. All four are scheduled in Southern California in early May, moving north in the state through the month and into mid-June, and then heading up to Oregon and points north. The Commemorative (ex-Confederate) Air Force's B-17G Texas Raiders, 44-83872 (N7227C), remains in maintenance until further notice due to the B-17 Airworthiness Directive issued by the FAA (see below also). It may be back up in 2008! The CAF's other B-17G, Sentimental Journey, 44-83514 (N9323Z), has dates starting at the end of May in New Mexico and then moving north into the Dakotas for June. The Arizona Wing's page shows the only Wing information posted for Sentimental Journey. The Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17G Aluminum Overcast, 44-85740 (N5017N), has dates posted for its Spring 2008 tour. In begins May in California and moves north in Oregon and Washington in the latter part of the month. For June, it heads east with dates post in Utah and Colorado, and then Iowa. The Liberty Foundation tours with this most recent B-17 restoration, Liberty Belle, B-17G 44-85734 (N390TH). Look for the airplane in Oklahoma in early May and then moving to Alabama and Georgia later in the month. Also slated to come to the UK this Summer. The Yankee Air Force out of Willow Run, Michigan, operates the magnificent B-17G, 44-85829 (N3193G), Yankee Lady. The museum is still reeling from the devestating fire that destroyed the hangar facilities but fortunately spared both the B-17 and B-25. Plans are underway to rebuild. The B-17 has its 2008 schedule posted on the website, with appearances starting in May in New York and Michigan, and Pennsylvania. New to the B-17 ride business is the Lone Star Flight Museum's Thunderbird, 44-85718 (N900RW), based at Galveston, Texas. They have started offering rides and have a schedule posted for appearances in Texas and Louisiana in the next few months. Attached is my favourite image from Thunder Over Michigan 2005 c/o the camera work of my fellow ToM attendee Simon Morris.

What a great weekend. Just a shame that I missed the armoured column due to museum duty in the Memorial Hall! I saw the C47 though and what a joy. An appropriate aircraft in appropriate markings in an appropriate location. Just a great shame that there were no 437th guys with us to savour it as well. It was good to meet some of the virtual HMVF names in the flesh too, even if they failed to capitalise on Jack's presence by not pinning him down and giving him a man's haircut! At least three people asked me if he was a fortune teller!! Keith Brigstock became my own personal mobile phone stalker for most of the last nine months of RTV's gestation, but it was well worth it as he pulled the event off in superb style! Watching him in action was a revelation and you couldn't have wished for a better guy to have been in the hot seat, pragmatist, diplomat, peace envoy and siege negotiator all rolled into one. All credit to him for dealing with the rough and the smooth so calmly (despite loosing sleep with the worry) and for not only gathering, but actually motivating a great team of willing and enthusiastic helpers from the KVMVT and the Garrison LHG, not to mention Suffolk and Nottinghamshire. Ramsbury, the Kennet Valley and Wiltshire haven't seen the like of it since 1945!