WW1 lorry's bikes car wanted for Gala weekend

Hi All,
The Leighton buzzard railway are having special event at the end of May next year based round WW1 it would be good to have some period vehicles and people dressed in costume \/ . Does anyone have some contact that they could send me.

Thanks

Peter

 

WW1 - try something difficult won't you!

There is kit of that age on the circuit but it is as rare as rocking horse!

I would suggest you try the MVCG and be prepared to consider civilian kit too - but with transport costs etc it may be a difficult nut to crack.

 

Being WWI not only would there not be many correct period military or civilian vehilces left now as TBirdFrank points out - there of course would have been few around at the time! Especially for civilian use horse drawn carts etc would have been far more common that any motorised vehilce in most civilian settings (except for the very posh!).

Probably Hook Norton is too far from Leighton Buzzard for them to bring their dray - and Charles Wells probably has not got one!. Other thoughts - is there a working rural life museum somewhere nearby? They may have a farm cart and suitable horse available. Of course traction engines would be appropiate both for military haulage use and rural farm use - and I would guess someone in the Bucks / Beds area will have an appropriate era traction engine. The National Trust at Wimpole (Cambridge) does horse and cart rides - whilst they probably would not loan their items - especially if it clashes with one of their events - they may have some contacts - just a thought.

 

Stroke of luck - I run a WW1 living history group (among others, most of our members including me were in the recent Hovis advert), and have contacts with those that run other high quality groups in the UK. As for vehicles, military vehicles aren't as rare as you think, but the problem is transporting them - solid tyred lorries are limited to 15mph on the roads and haulage is very, very expensive. I know someone with a collection of about three running vehicles with more being restored though. There's a lot of WW1 era motorbikes around - a member of my group is finishing off the restoration of his 1915 despatch riders Douglas motorcycle, but he's based in Belgium!

PM me and i'll see what I can do

 

There are a good number of period Buses and Lorries in your locale.

Mr Mike Sutcliffe of Totternhoe near Dunstable, and Mr Barry Weatherhead of Woburn Sands may be able to help.

Interestingly I had a ride to the Leighton Buzzard on one of Mr Sutcliffes buses a few years ago.

 

Thanks very much for the information would it be possible for you to approach this gentleman if he would be willing to attend, or send me his contact details via PM, and I will contact him. this could be a very good addition to the event.

thanks

peter

 

There's a WW1 recreation group who get to the Old Warden flying days. I'll try and get a contact number for you. The Shuttleworth Collection itself has suitable period vehicles but I'm unsure as to if they allow them to travel away from home.

 

Try these.
lhttp://www.thegreatwarsociety.com/[url] http://website.lineone.net/~hollis_wood/doughweb/links.htm[/url]