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Wartime spirit rekindled as crowds revel in sights and sounds of an era
RATIONING, air raid alerts and conscription may have made the war years some of Britain's darkest days.
But nostalgia for the bulldog spirit and the lighter side of life on the Home Front sent Spring Bank Holiday crowds flocking to Scarborough Castle.
English Heritage marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War at its annual Wartime Weekend – which this year was staged on an upbeat note.
Event manager Jon Hogan said: "Although the war was often a time laden with grief as both soldiers and civilians lost their lives in encounters with the enemy, it was also a time of great patriotism and celebration of what made Britain proud.
"During the weekend, we wanted to rekindle some of the wartime spirit that got our country through a particularly tough period – a time when everyone in the country was pulling in the same direction for the common good."
The sights and sounds of the war years were brought vividly to life by a host of historic interpreters including those playing air raid wardens helping bombing victims.
There were also classes on dealing with explosions or unexploded bombs, and other themes from the early years of the war recreated against a backdrop of music and song.
There were fly-pasts by Second World War planes and battle re-enactments by members of the Northern World War 2 Association and the East Yorkshire Regiment Re-enactment Society. The wartime theme continues throughout the half-term holiday, as younger visitors to Scarborough Castle are invited to join the Time Travellers at their Spy School.
Inside English Heritage's big top, children can learn some
of the techniques employed by spies in the Second World
War.
Activities take place between 11am and 5pm each day from today to Sunday. Prices are 4.50 for adults, 3.82 for concessions, 2.30 for children or 11.30 for a family ticket.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
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