Ingleton (North Yorkshire)

2nd Operation Home Guard Weekend

There new Web Site is located in above link !!!!!

July  5th & 6th  2008

The weather forecast was not good for this weekend, and boy did they get it right for a change. We went up Friday late afternoon, in the sunshine, to set up camp in the huge level field, on top of a hill. The field is only 10 minutes walk from the nearest pub, and about 15 - 20 minutes to Ingleton Village itself, so was a great location. Friday night /Saturday morning the storm came in. I thought the tent was going at one point. The wind was horrendous, and the rain constant. So a bad night was had by all, well all those in tents anyway. There was some breaks in the weather, where sun graced us, just at the right times. It had been raining and drizzling all morning, just before the little skirmish in the village, the sun came out, wonderful.

The Skirmish was very much 'Allo 'Allo feel, refreshing to have a light hearted family skirmish, with Herr Flick and Helga being rounded up and escorted out of town. The sun then went back in for the rest of the afternoon, and soaked the little school children doing a dance routine.  But we had a great weekend, even though most of it was sheltering in the jeep under canvas, trying to keep dry. Freshly made Butchers burgers, cooked outside the shop, at £2 each, a bargain. Went there a few times!!!!

Roops trying to keep dry in the Dodge in between rain showers. Down near the cafe, Roops and Mandy put on a great display of some of their vast collection, only a small portion can be shown here.

All sorts of groups turned up to liberate the Village from the invading aggressors. The Paras and the U.S. Airborne, were all in force .

Why nobody had seen the large group of "foreign visitors" all the years since the war, we shudder to think.  But we soon sorted them out on Saturday lunchtime, and again on Sunday....

Tim and James came up to say hi, just as the heavens opened, again, this time with hail stones. We hid under my dining shelter, and just watched in amazement at the noise and the amount of hail that was put down, most of which seemed to end up inside Tim's jeep.....

All we could do was laugh and shelter. I always knew that my dining shelter would come in useful, it fits the jeep and the trailer underneath.

Tony and his BSA Scrambler, I am not sure what it is, so if anyone knows, please tell me.

The dance in the Falls Cafe, was packed, and dancing went on from start to finish, I don't think that the floor was empty from one song to the next.

Sunday started great, a slight breeze drying the tents out, sun and no rain, yet....

The Pipe Band  and Home Guard escort, parade through the village to the memorial, to lay a wreath.

The Home Guard escort with our very own "Actual" drill instructor.

There was then a very long parade of the vehicles, through the village. So many people had turned out to see us, that it was difficult to drive through. I had young James in with me, so canvas off, and screen down, off we went.

Can you spot Herr Flick of the Gestapo, with the picture of "The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies". (picture at the bottom of the page....)

 Then it was off to the Briers pub in Bentham for hot soup. Unfortunately, just as we were leaving the village, the heavens really opened upon us. I could not see where we were going for rain. Within seconds we were utterly drenched. James and I quickly put up the canvas, and said "this is ridiculous, sod the soup", and headed back into town for shelter, as did my brother Phil with James's dad. The rest of the day was rain all day. So I said my good byes and dismantled my tent, in the last sunny part of the day.

The photo at the top of this page, is of the next big thunder and lightning storm approaching Ingleton.  20 mins later I was off, with canvas and doors on, to be greeted by another storm seconds out of the camp.

Somebody took this of me, don't know, but if they own up, I will accredit you for the picture.

 I think this was on the Saturday, just after we captured the escaping Herr Flick of the Gestapo. Cheesy grin. I think I was just happy to be dry at this point......

Paul had fun over the weekend, driving the NSU Kettencrad on the road.

Sunday afternoon, a hastily erected canvas top just to keep us dry.

Even with all the water, Ruthie was as good as could be.

                   Roll on next year !!!!!      

Many thanks to Elaine and John, members of the Home guard and their wives who helped in this weekend. Cheers to you all.

Herr Flick of the Gestapo (Keith), still clutching the picture of "the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies"

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last updated - 18th July , 2008