AMAZING, RECORD-BREAKING - THE 40s WEEKEND

The programme said it all - Welcome on board for a journey back to the 'Forties - and it was a special journey for all that came to the North Norfolk 'Poppy Line' Railway. It was a weekend of records: the greatest number of people on the platforms; the greatest number of fare-paying journeys on the trains; and the greatest number of 40s-dressed and war-time uniformed soldiers, sailors and airmen as well as WAAFS, American service-men, Home Guard and uniformed police - and as well as these, in amongst the crowds was a dead-ringer for Claude Greengrass who lightened up proceedings when he was arrested for pinching coal from one of the trains.  Captured German seamen and pilots were paraded over the platform with their hands behind their heads and armed escorts displaying their guns, to make it look very realistic.

The train journeys featured the steam trains WD Austerity, a 2-10-0 tender engine and an impressive American train, the S160, a 2-8-0 tender engine that is visiting the Poppy Line.

There was activity on all three stations on the line - Holt, Weybourne and Sheringham - including military vehicle displays, veteran cycles and re-enactment groups - American Tan, the Forties Flyers and Timescape - who were seen on the stations singing forties songs and dancing.  Even the crowds joined in the dancing.  There were market stalls at Holt and the spectacular model railway and the ride-on miniature railway were both great attractions.  The new William Marriot Museum was also open at Holt.   A traction engine reminiscent of the age, was on display at Weybourne and a Field Kitchen serving squirrel, rabbit and pigeon pies, venison and mutton.  There was food available from the NAAFIs and a Hog Roast at Sheringham.  The days were blessed with good weather, but the low cloud ruined the flypast.  This is a yearly event and if the weather is kind, many people will return for more of the atmosphere next year.

READERS LETTER

Hi there,
I wonder if you can help me.  A couple of weekends ago, we attended the 1940s event on the Poppyline.  We dressed in 40s clothes, and whilst sitting on a train at Weybourne station, a professional photographer came up to the window and took some real close up photos of my face and head, in different poses - he asked me to look up, sideways etc.  My husband says it's probably because I looked quite stunning - bless him, but I have very blonde hair, and had a navy blue hat with a red flower on, and bright red lipstick. So it probably did look quite striking.  Then once he'd taken them, he just walked off, not giving us a card or his name or anything.

We are not local, we live in Sussex, so I haven't seen any local Norfolk newspapers, and wondered if it was one of your photographers maybe?  I have asked the railway people, and they didn't know who he was.  I would like to see the photos, with a view to buying them, and am obviously curious as to where they will end up!  Hope you can help.
Kind regards, Tina Burton

HORSE RACE NIGHT - NOT JUST A VIDEO, THIS IS MUCH MORE FUN - IT'S LIKE A
GIANT BOARD GAME.  WEYBOURNE VILLAGE HALL ON SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER, DOORS
OPEN FROM 7.00PM. LICENSED BAR. CHILDREN WELCOME BUT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED
BY AN ADULT.