Category: Travel

Watchet 1940s Weekend 2019

ARE YOU READY FOR THE INVASION?

The clocks go back at the weekend to the 1940s.

The bunting has been sewn, plans have been made, props have been built, dresses have been bought, menus selected and panic has taken over!

The 13th, 14th and 15th September will see Watchet invaded by large groups of re-enactors. As part of the West Somerset Railway ’40s Weekend, Watchet once again goes all out to re-create a 1940s town. Shops and businesses will have bomb taped windows, shop windows will be dressed, cafes and pubs will serve 40s fare.

The air raid sirens will sound and the trains will carry military hardware.

FRIDAY INVASION

Friday sees the invasion of 140 evacuees! They will arrive by train and be taken to the Methodist hall where they will be allocated their families. Receive a lunch of spam sandwiches and cake and their allotted sweet ration.

In the Boat Museum, music from Betty Bluebird will be part of the evening celebration.

SATURDAY INVASION

The arrival of the re-enactors from all over the country  will see Watchet’s population explode! Saturday has a full program of entertainment on the Esplanade, with Brass bands, community choir, stalls, 40s singing groups and individuals. Military vehicles and personnel moving around the town. Tea shops filled with cake and pubs with liver and onions!!!

SUNDAY INVASION

Uniformed personnel will attend a church service on Sunday morning at the war memorial this will start the day rightly remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom. Then the music will begin once again on the esplanade, time for dancing and having fun. Drinking tea, eating cake and enjoying the afternoon sun (which has been booked!)until we can do no more.

By 5 o’clock we’ll all be full of cake, feet will ache, heads will be pounding and we’ll ll be totally exhausted!! Don’t forget……………….

ONLY A YEAR TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ONE!!

Watchet is Volunteer Central…

HOW WATCHETY……

Watchet is blessed with a huge number of willing volunteers. Volunteers that love music, volunteers that love gardening, those that love art, those that love the 40s, those that love books, those who love trains…………..I could go on and on.

This weekend we have Watchet Festival. A three day extravaganza of music, poetry and art. The bass re-verbs around town into the night and the happy folk who are partying on the hill enjoy the views of the sea and sunshine especially requested for this weekend!

Why do I mention the festival?

Well without the volunteers the festival just wouldn’t be Watchety! Volunteers on security. Volunteers on maintenance, on stewarding, on car parking  duty just to name a few of the jobs that locals love to fill.

DRIVING PASSED

As I drove passed yesterday evening at 11.30pm. Music throbbing, lights flashing, happy shouting and singing. There  sat by the side of the road with their flask of tea and…………………. ear defenders on were a couple of local ‘retirees’ on car parking duty!

How Watchety is that!!!

I just love to see those embracing the volunteer ethos, our town is full of these amazing people who give up their time to keep things running smoothly.  Age is no barrier,  just keep doing what you’re doing you are really appreciated.

QUOTING THE BELL MAN

To quote our Town Crier ‘don’t come to Watchet to retire, come to Watchet to live!’

HOW TRUE!

Watchet plans to mark centenary of end of world war I with 11 days of commemoration

Since early this year a dedicated group drawn from organisations across Watchet, and spearheaded by the Royal British Legion, have been planning to mark the end of hostilities in 1918 in a special and fitting way.

 

From 1 November until the Remembrance Service on 11 November, most days will feature an event or activity which commemorates the tragic events of 1914-1918 and Watchet’s part in these events, whilst on the Sunday of the 11 November all churches in Watchet will combine to hold their services at Watchet Methodist Church at 10.00am rather than holding the traditional afternoon parade and service. At 11.00 am the service will mark the end of hostilities at the Town’s War Memorial with concluding prayers and the traditional period of silence.

 

Our traditional parade, led by West Somerset Brass Band, will move off from the Esplanade at 9.30am through the Town for the service at 10.00am and all organisations who wish may take part in this parade.

 

Through the 11 days leading up to the parade the following events have been planned:

 

 

Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd

  • Prayers at Watchet Methodist Church: noon. Unveiling of “The Watchet Tommy”

Saturday 3rd

  • Animals of WWI on Esplanade: 11.00am – 1.00pm.
  • Exhibition of memorabilia of Watchet residents involved in WW1 at Phoenix Centre.

Sunday 4th

  •  Exhibition of memorabilia of Watchet residents involved in WW1 at Phoenix Centre.
  • All churches in Watchet to include prayers to mark the impending centenary.

Wednesday 7th

  • Presentation: PoWs of West Somerset in WW1 at The Sanctuary.

Thursday 8th

  • Presentation at St. Decuman’s “Lest we forget.”

Friday 9th

  • Watchet Film Society “Oh what a lovely war.” 7.00pm

Saturday 10th

  • Exhibition of memorabilia of Watchet residents involved in WW1 at Phoenix Centre. Soup and roll lunch at Salvation Army noon to 2.00pm.

Sunday 11th 

  • Parade and Service. Parade 9.30am, service at Watchet Methodist Church 10.00am
  • Congregate for 11am 2 minutes silence at War Memorial
  • Exhibition of memorabilia of Watchet residents involved in WW1 at Phoenix Centre
  • Unveiling of the Poppy from the Tower of London donated by the Masonic Lodge at the Council Offices

 

 

For further details contact Rev. Vincent Woods on 01984 634681.