Back to the Past – Ramsey 1940s Weekend

Every August, the town of Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, hosts a 1940s Weekend. For a few days, The Camp (a former search light battery unit) turns back time and visitors can experience all things 1940s.

According to their website, those attending the weekend will have a chance to:

Immerse yourself with all the sights, sounds and tastes of the era. Living History displays situated amongst the original wooden buildings with vintage military, civilian and commercial vehicles exhibited all around. Re-enactors mingle with visitors and add to the atmosphere. The canteen will be open for spam sandwiches, bread pudding and anything else not on ration. The 1940s garden close by being central to the Home Front displays. There will be war time cooking demonstrations taking place in the Drill Hall. Battle re-enactments are also being planned. Vehicles from the period will be exhibited throughout the Camp area.

There’s also a big dance, entertainment, possible flyovers by vintage aircraft, tank rides and heaven knows what else. It sounds like fun for the whole family, although it looks like canteen prices are from the 2010s and not the 1940s (a shame that!).

During World War 2, two RAF bases were located near the village of Ramsey – RAF Upwood and its satellite base, RAF Warboys.

On 1 February, 1941, German spy Josef Jakobs was apprehended by some Home Guard Volunteers at Dovehouse Farm, southeast of Ramsey.

This year, the 1940s Weekend in Ramsey takes place on August 22 and 23.

Header image – “Lancaster Bomber Cowes” by Geoff Acton is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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