Military Vehicle Trust . . . the world's biggest and oldest military vehicle club!
South East Midlands Area
Monthly meets at Market Harborough
The team behind Harborough at War is holding monthly classic car meets at Harborough Innovation Centre and , of course. MVs are more than welcome. They are on the third Sunday of each month and refreshments are available. There is a charge of £3 per vehicle to defray costs. The address is: Airfield Business Park, Leicester Rd, Market Harborough LE16 7WB.
New talks for Sywell Aviation Museum
Our friends at Sywell Aviation Museum have organised more talks for early 2019. Details are on the flyers below (click on them to expand). In the meantime, don't forget the museum's grand opening on Easter Saturday. Pictured is an RAF Hercules turboprop.
MVs wanted for Easter Saturday display
Sywell Aviation Museum reopens after its winter slumber on Easter Saturday, April 20, 2019, and, as usual our vehicles are being welcomed to help make the day special.
The main focus of the Grand Opening will be the unveiling of the museum’s restored Hawker Hunter F2 Jet Fighter WN904 which is the only complete F2 variant in the world. Work on this unique aircraft by members of the Museum has been ongoing for a number of years. The unveiling will be the culmination of many hours of painstaking work which will now preserve the integrity of the aircraft for years to come.
The Grand Opening will be supported by a display of numerous military vehicles, cockpits, model and book sales and military re-enactors.
Weather permitting, it is hoped that a number of interesting vintage aircraft will be paying a visit to the aerodrome during the day.
May Blossom, Vintage Songbird, who serenaded us at the 2018 Grand Opening with wartime songs, will be making a welcome return visit which will add atmosphere to this event. More information on https://www.facebook.com/SywellAviationMuseum
Gates open at 0900. Please try to arrive before 1000. The museum will feed us and has promised plenty of the famous lemon drizzle cake!
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Future of Thurleigh Museum
in safe hands
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942.
Picture: Imperial War Museum
The 306th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Force was stationed at Thurleigh Airfield from the autumn of 1942 until the autumn of 1945. At the time Ralph Franklin was a small boy living at Keysoe and like most of his generation, collected any “war souvenirs” he could lay his hands on and living close to Thurleigh, naturally took a great interest in the 306th.
With the cessation of hostilities his enthusiasm became a life-long interest and his collection of wartime artefacts continued to grow. Through the generosity of Palmersport, Ralph was given the use of an ex-wartime “explosives store” building on Thurleigh Airfield to accommodate his collection and here he created and subsequently opened to the public a museum which has since become the excellent World War Two Museum which it now is.
Recently, through ill-health, Ralph became no longer able to carry any further responsibility for the Museum and its future was placed in serious jeopardy. However a number of Museum “friends” got together and have formed a volunteer management group with the objectives of firstly ensuring the continuing existence of the Museum and secondly seeking arrangements whereby it can continue to be accessible to the visiting public.
With the continuing support of Palmersport, the plan is to open the museum to the public on each Sunday throughout the summer of 2019, starting on Sunday, May 5.. Opening times will be 10am to 4pm. Before undertaking a visit, a check by telephone to 01234 771984 or email to clivebobcarroll@yahoo.co.uk is advised.
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Tim Webster's winter project
Ibex vehicles are specialist off road builders. Ibex supplied a running shell to Carmichael who the altered it and fitted fire equipment. One of only two commissioned by the Admiralty to work in the tunnels of Gibraltar. Loosely based on Land Rover Defender.
Harborough at War 2019 - put it in your diary!
The South East Midlands Area team which brought you Wicksteed at War is in 2019 supporting Harborough at War, a multi-era war re-enactment, and living history spectacular! Based at Market Harborough Showground, a former WW2 airfield , off Gallowfield Road, Market Harborough, it's the first event of its kind for the area, taking place on the August 3-4, 2019.
It will feature re-enactment groups, living history groups, military vehicles, battle simulations, displays, trade stalls etc. As there is no Wicksteed at War in 2019, due to the Normandy events, this will be the main show for our area. More details here later and on the Harborough at War Facebook page.
Surplus store offers discount for MVT members
An Army surplus and military clothing and equipment store in Northampton is offering a 10 per cent discount for MVT members on production of your member ship card.
Combat Cellar is in The Maltings, St James Road, which is part of the Westbridge filling station and taxi compound, just down the hill from Northampton Station. There is parking right outside. Opening times are pictured. The website is www.combatcellar.com
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If you consider yourself in the South East Midlands Area, it is vital that you affiliate yourself to the area. Only those who have affiliated can stand for office, vote at meetings or take part in the mileage award. It's easy to do, just go onto the main MVT website (www.mvt.org.uk) and click on the "Membership/join" tab. Then click on "Affiliation Form" tab. Fill in the form, selecting "South East Midlands", tick the "I'm not a robot" square and submit it. It only takes a few minutes.
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MEETINGS
Our meetings are usually held at the Aviator pub, Sywell Aerodrome, near Northampton, at 8pm on the first Thursday of the month (but not January). Just go into the bar and ask for directions to the MVT meeting room. Check first with the Diary section in case the venue or date has changed.
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Opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Military Vehicle Trust or the MVT South East Midlands Area.