Donington on the Home Front

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, on Sunday, 20th September Leicestershire County Council’s Donington le Heath Manor House goes back to the roller coaster days of rationing, make do and mend, jive and air raids.

WW2 re-enactment groups ‘Tommy Atkins Society’ and ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ will demonstrate how The Leicestershire Regiment and the Home Guard Auxiliaries played their part in the war.

There will be real wartime artefacts as well as replicas that visitors can handle, alongside the men and women who kept the country running, ever watchful of German invasion.

A troupe of dancers will demonstrate the music and moves that were all the range amongst the young people who were making the most of the frightening but exciting world around them.

The Friends of Donington will be running World War II style stalls. Use your coupons to buy sweets, try your arm at the potato shy (in lieu of coconuts) with vegetable prizes, buy something from the make do and mend bric-a-brac stall and do your bit for the war effort.

Local games experts will be showing how the war time population would have entertained themselves in the home, the pub and the street or playground, before the TV came along.

Manor House staff will be running children’s crafts, making code breaking devices, card spitfires and gas masks. A small charge will be made for these.

Classics Tea Room will be serving traditional refreshments in the Barn all day.

Donington on the Home Front runs from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 20th September. Admission is free.

For further information please contact Richard Knox, Keeper of Donington on 0116 3058327. For more information on Donington and its events visit    www.leics.gov.uk/donington

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