Drive It Day 2019

On Sunday 28 April, our region took part in Drive-It-Day.

The day started with twenty five cars meeting up at North Weald Airfield.  We had a good cooked breakfast at the The Wings Cafe, which set us up for the day.

After a leisurely drive along the A414 we arrived at The Forties Experience Museum in Bushey.  During World War 2 the site was the USAAF 8th Fighter Command Headquarters.  They have a room dedicated to the history of the site, and other rooms fitted out as life was in the 1940’s.

Outside there was much to see, including an Anderson Shelter, built to take 6 people, which would have been a squeeze to all fit in. There was also a display with a large number of riffles, guns, knives, battle equipment and a jeep.  The volunteer staff were dressed in costumes of the period, including one guy dressed in an American USAAF uniform.

We went into a darkened building which was set out as bomb-damaged building with unexploded bombs and a loud sound track with the sirens and sounds of the Second World War.  Tea, cake and light refreshments were available in the NAAFI hut. Although the sky threatened to rain at times the day remained dry and fine.

Many members were heard to say ‘I remember we had one of those’ as they viewed the items of the 1940’s/1950’s in the museum.  One of our members tried on a tin hat, and I could have sworn I had seen him before in Dad’s Army.

Twenty eight of our members departed from the museum, and rounded the day off with a very enjoyable lunch at the The College Arms pub in Hertford Heath.

Graham Cook