Airfix Sponsor Home Front Bus

We are pleased to announce that Home Front Bus is now receiving sponsorship from Airfix .  They have put a special pack together to enable schools and other youth organisations to try out the fantastic world of Airfix modelling and these are being promoted on the front and rear of the bus.

Raising the Flag Day, Gravesend

An excellent day in Gravesend partaking in the Raising the Flag ceremony at the Civic Centre.  Once the formalities were over the crowd were entertained by a variety of artists recreating the sounds of WW2.  The visiting school children were literally dancing in the streets.

Thanks to Gravesham Borough Council for inviting us along and for T. S Dhesi, the Mayor of Gravesham for contributing the following to our visitor book.

Excellent idea.  Brings everything that we hear and read about to life.  Well done!

Spa Valley Railway 1940's Weekend

Thanks to all at the Spa Valley Railway for hosting the Home Front Bus at the newly reopened Eridge Station.  As the trains arrived from Tunbridge Wells the passengers transferred to the bus to enjoy the displays before rejoining their train.

A great weekend in the company of many excellent re-enactors and the steam trains that made for a very atmospheric weekend.

Thanks are also due to Richard at Brookline Coaches, Ryarsh for allowing us to keep the bus in their yard for the past week. 

Helping Ryarsh School Celebrate their 70th Anniversary

It was a real pleasure to be invited by Ryarsh Primary School to help celebrate their 70th anniversary.  A fantastic effort had been put in by all the staff to give the whole school a 1940's feel complete with artefacts lying everywhere.  We didn't know whether we were in a museum or a school?  All the staff wore period costume and every school window was taped to help prevent flying glass from bomb blasts.  They even dressed up their old air raid shlter as it might have been during the war.

School staff all dresssed up for the occasion

Housewife Mel listening to well informed pupils

Air Raid Warden Paul presents a pupil with an incendary bomb to inspect

Shop keeper Jo explains the meagre wartime rations.  That meat would have to last a family for a week. 

Thanks to everyone at the school for being such great hosts and for writing the following in our visitor book:

What a fantastic resource and a fabulous learning experience!  The children (and staff) have had the opportunity to experience a little bit of life in the 1940's today and we've loved it!  Thank you all very much.

No Sign of a Droubt in Bromley

Our second wet Sunday in a row was spent at the Bromley Motor Pageant. The poor weather kept away large crowds but we did respectable business under the circumstances.  Many local school teachers discovered us for the first time and were suitably impressed with the presentation.  We will hopefully visit the Bromley and Croydon area again in the Autumn to visit more schools.

Four Bromley Shools

This week Home Front Bus has entertained and hopefully educated four Primary Schools in the London Borough of Bromley.  They were Manor Oak, Poverest, Leesons and Darrick Wood.  The comment below came from staff at Manor Oak Primary School, St Marys Cray.

Thank you so much for a great experience.  The children and staff enjoyed each section of the bus very much.  I know we have all learnt a great deal through the visit of the World War 2 bus.  It was very beneficial to the children's learning to have a grasp of the reality of the war.  We will certainly recommend you.

Thanks to all the staff at all the schools for your great hospitality and for entering in to the spirit of the occasion.

New Team at Hamstreet Country Show

Sunny weather on Saturday meant that we had a great day at Hamstreet Country Show. Rain on Sunday meant the opposite. However, we welcomed two new members of the team onto the bus - Gill and daughter Aimee (sounds like the Generation Game). They did a great job and got stuck in with big smiles on their faces. I am looking forward to working with Gill and Aimee over the summer months.  Not forgetting Ben who also did a great job in the Saturday heat.