Helipebs Controls were proud to be one of the three main sponsors of a local Military vehicle and re-enactment show held at Ashdown Camp, Badsey, Nr Evesham on the weekend of 22/23rd June 2013.
Our UK Sales Manager, David Morse and his two fellow re-enactors, took their extensive collection of Home Guard equipment to the show and set it up in one of the eleven Nissen huts. Over the last 7 years or so this collection has grown from a few gasmasks and webbing to include a section on the Auxiliaries, a collection of uniforms, secret dead letter boxes, sectioned ordnance, home made weapons and some 3 dozen varied firearms, used by the Home Guard during WW2. This display is taken to around a dozen such shows a year and to schools as the Second World War is now part of the syllabus. David also took along his WW2 despatch rider's bike which he took for a spirited ride around the arena!
The car parks at the show were full early on both days ensuring that a good turnout saw numerous displays of vehicles of all ages from WW1 through to the Iraqi War showing their paces with the culmination on the Sunday of a battle between German and Anglo-American forces in the main arena that was specifically sponsored by Helipebs Controls.
Ashdown Camp has been used by many schools for field trips and film crews for such BBC programmes as Land Girls and Father Brown. Made up of numerous Nissen huts and other buildings displaying period equipment, dioramas and vehicles this made a great visit and a great opportunity to get our name into the public domain and at the same time support a local event.
Due to high wind on both days, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were not able to attend but on the Sunday the Red Arrows did not let the show down with a fly through trailing their familiar smoke signature.
Other highlights were the WW2 searchlight that lit the night sky and the accompanying Anti Aircraft gun letting off a few rounds and the many re-enactment groups displaying everything from weapons through to pigeons used to send messages back from the front.
Photo courtesy of Thrash600D Photography