Just returned from the weekend at the annual vintage 40's and 50's festival at the former air force base of Twinwoods in Bedfordshire (UK). The last airfield that the famous musician and composer, Glenn Miller flew from on his way to Paris during WWII, and was never seen again. This used to be called the Glenn Miller Festival, but for some reason, it has changed its' name and is now trying to be more things to more people (guess it must be on commercial grounds). Anyway...there were lots of swing dance classes going on, music concerts for Rockabillies and forties folk, nice vintage cars, beer tents, museums, etc..
And of course there was MAGIC IN THE AIR thanks to that old Wizard called MERLIN. In this case MERLIN was the engine of a Spitfire fighter which dazzled the crowds as it painted pictures in the sky with its' flying. There was also the flypast of a Lancaster Bomber, thanks to the Battle of Britain Flight.
I did get rather cold and wet in my little tent (yes, Paddy went a tenting in a field, only to find that the tent became more like a cabin on the Titanic during its final moments!!).
But it was lovely meeting people I hadn't seen in ages, and also making new friends too :) Shame it's 300 miles away, and I'm feeling it now, but I'll be a long time dead, so you've got to bite the bullet and do these things :)
I did get a lovely compliment, which made me beam..."Paddy, if you are in a soggy one man tent, how on earth did you manage to come out looking so spiffing?" Well, between my book on Harry Houdini and these flexible limbs of mine, it's amazing what a man can turn his hand to in a one-man-tent!
Ohhhhhh, the first few pics are from my motoring down to Twinwoods via Grantchester meadows (by the river Camb, where you can go punting all the way into Cambridge and the backs of the famous colleges - how romantique!!). I had cream tea in the famous Orchard Tea Rooms by the river, and yes, it's in an Apple Orchard where you sit on old deck chairs, just as they did 80-years-ago. So that helped break the LONG trek to Twinwood :)
One last funny thing. I only attended the Sunday event for a few hours in the morning, due to the long drive back home. So I ditched the vintage gear in favour of more practial travelling kit for the car. It was as 'if' I was in disguise, as no-one recognised me in my black jacket and sunglasses, until I introduced myself!!
Thank you for sharing about your trip to the Twinwoods Festival, the Orchard Tea Room, Granchester, and surrounding areas with us here on your blog in your trademark descriptive prose and always delightfully beautiful photographs, Paddy. Makes me wanted to have been there too all the more! Next year, eh??
ReplyDeleteYou were indeed 'spiffing' in your vintage clobber as seen here, as always Good Sir. Be it as it may that others perhaps didn't recognize you in your Golden Era Hollywood Star 'incognito' modern driving kit look you had on Sunday- but HA! I'd have spotted you right away as I would know that noble visage; with THOSE so ever present sunglasses, the twinkling Irish eyes, the charming smile, AND that elegant, perfectly suited for vintage manly form of yours anywhere!
Sounds like you had a very enjoyable time, and you came off looking sooo dashing and fresh as a daisy through it all- even with sleeping in a soggy tent!