WWII Whit, 1940's Fete Re-Creation & Tea Dance

The Whitsun Re-Creation of WWII Life

We present everyday life at Kentwell during WWII at a time before the Hall was requisitioned. Then Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence  then owners of Kentwell) were living at the Hall with some staff and were suffering the same shortages and hardships as everyone else.

Mr & Mrs Bence are shown assisting the War Effort in two ways: allowing the Hall's grounds to be used for the local Home Guard's manouevres. Secondly, raising funds.

Fundraising and the Fete

Raising money to help pay for the war was very important. There was the Spitfire Fund, Warships Week, Salute the Soldier and other trendy names to encourage this. Mrs Bence concentrates her efforts in this way. Among these efforts are Garden Fetes then a popular expression of local community life. You can change your money for 'old pence' and spend your pennies at the various stalls and sideshows. All monies raised from the Fete will be donated to a Services charity.

The Home Guard

A section of the Home Guard will be in evidence training and practising drills.  Early in the War the Home Guard struggled for weapons and equipment, augmented by the generosity of locals. So the Kentwell section is equipped with a light armoured car which, thanks to the ingenuity of the local smith, has been adapted from a Bulnose Morris.  Exercises were rarely taxing. One diarist of the time recorded finding that on an exercise one member had left a Note pinned to a tree: "I was mortally wounded so have gone home for tea." We try to capture that spirit.

Others

There are usually Civilians, perhaps some Evacuees from London (Kentwell in fact housed evacuees during the early part of the War), the School Mistress from TV's Evacuation, Farm Workers, WVS and, perhaps, an officious ARP Warden.

The Kitchen becomes a 1940's kitchen producing much from very little making use of produce from the Garden. Some foods were almost unobtainable and highly-prized, such as meat, bananas and oranges. Hence these items form the Fete prizes.

Tea Dance

These were popular diversions of the time and during the afternoon the Overcroft aided by some gramophone records will feature one such.  We hope our visitors will demonstrate their prowess at the Waltz, Foxtrot etc.

There are no concessions this weekend for HHA Members

Other Weekend Re-Creations of WWII Everyday Life:
Home Front 31st July & August 1 
Country House Requisitioned October 2 & 3
More About WWII Re-Creations