bressingham steam gardens

Bressingham Steam & Gardens near Diss, home of the national Dad’s Army Collection, invites you to step back in time and enjoy the sights and sounds of the 1940s on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 10.30am to 5pm. There is also a special 1940s dance, with Ipswich based Swing Machine Big Band, on the Saturday evening from 7.30pm.

Timescape, featuring John and Christine Drury, will be performing songs from the era throughout the weekend and there will be jiving and lindy hop dancing with Texas Tommy and The Jitterbug Dancers (Saturday) and Jive Bunnies (Sunday).

bressingham steam gardens

Living history groups will be setting up camp including Thunder from Heaven Living History Group, the Real Allied History Group and The Royal Norfolk’s. Norfolk Military Vehicle group will also be on hand.

Walk down Walmington-on-Sea’s high street in Bressingham’s Dad’s Army exhibition and see Captain Mainwaring’s bank, Corporal Jones’ butcher’s shop and Private Frazer’s funeral parlour, along with the national Dad’s Army Appreciation Society’s collection. There’s also an opportunity for children to dress up in Dad’s Army uniforms in the Church Hall.

Vehicles from the Bressingham Collection were involved in the filming of Dad’s Army, notably the Leyland fire engine in ‘Brain versus Brawn’ (episode 50, 1972), as well as steamroller ‘Boxer’ and traction engine ‘Bertha’.

bressingham steam gardens

Advance tickets, which also include steam train and Victorian gallopers rides cost:

Single Day ticket – adult £13.95, concessions £12.50 and child £9.95 (under 3 free)

Weekend Day ticket – adult £18.45, concessions £17 and child £14.45 (under 3 free).

1940s Dance only – £10.

To buy tickets t. 01379 686900, online at www.bressingham.co.uk/events or in person at the ticket office.

Entry only on the day (no rides included) is £10 for 17 and over.

Alastair Baker, General Manager Bressingham Steam & Gardens said: “The nation will be marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8 May. Our 1940s weekend gives visitors the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of the era and also reflect on the impact of World War II on the Norfolk community.”

Bressingham Steam IP22 2AA is 2½ miles from Diss on the A1066. T. 01379 686900, www.bressingham.co.uk​.

Bressingham Steam & Gardens, reg. charity no. 266374, was founded by the late Alan Bloom in 1961. The Steam Heritage Centre and Gardens are open daily for the main season to the end of October.

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