PROJECT DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Well, hasn't the season started well? Freezing cold weather at Fort Paull, rain and cold at Kiplin Hall, and torrential rain at Hoghton Tower, so bad that the place lookmed like the Somme. Can it get any better? I won't report on each individual event, but hey, how about some comments from you. What did you think of our first events?

Jazz Festival at Upton Upon Severn

The organisers of this event have asked us to do a parade and some living history. That's it. Are you up for it? Contact Roger or Ian if you are.

HARLEY 2003 at Littleport

Since reporting this event in the past, several changes have been made. For thos of you who are on the net, it is worthwhile going on to their web site at www.littleportharley.co.uk. I must stress that this is NOT the Littleport Show. That is still going ahead on a much smaller scale the previous weekend.

The venue is Littleport Leisure Centre, Camel Road, Littleport, CB6 1EW. Just follow the signs.

There will be stage entertainment from 5 p.m. on Friday, which includes Against the Grain, Snake Oil, The Tony McPhee Blues Duo, and The Hamsters

The programme on Saturday begins with a parade led by us at 9.30 a.m. (not as early as last time) from the Showground. Our Cavalry unit is doing a separate display at 3 p.m. until 3.30 p.m., and our battle is at 4 p.m. They have advertise dthat we are on for an hour, so let us make it good.

This will be a good dress rehearsal for Weston Park.

There will be literally hundreds of bikes there, mainly Harleys, and loads more entertainment.

On Saturday Evening, I am most disappointed that there will be no Status Quo tribute band (Hurrah do I hear?). Beginning at 5 p.m., they have Overtime, Jon Bedles Boogle Band, The Sound of teh Committments (they promise they will rock your socks off!) and to finish off are The Groundhogs

on Sunday, the grand Parade leaves the Showground at 11.45 a.m. for the official unveiling of the William Harley Memorial Monument. They are relying on us for this parade, so please can you make an extra special effort. Then it's off back home to get ready for the weekend.

Camping from Friday mid-day until Sunday after the parade.

Registration fee £3.

Weston Park

This is our second commercial event entitled Steam, Strife and Succession. As well as our own living history camps and re-enactment of The road to Malvern Hill, there will also be over 100 Victorian re-enactors, displays, talks and demonstrations from Blists Hill Victorian Town (Ironbridge Museum), Steam Fairground, Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, General Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, will be in attendance, and many, many other attractions. Gates open to the public at 10.00am. No vehicular movement will be permitted after 8.00am on Saturday and Sunday. The designated car parks must be used by re-enactors, please do not park in the public car parks, your car will be moved if you are in the way. Roger has reported separately on this event so I will keep it brief.

Living history from Friday. Re-enactment Saturday and Sunday at 3.00pm. All the other entertainment i.e. Fairground will stop whilst this is taking place and resume afterwards.

Camping from Thursday mid-day until Tuesday.

Further information will be given in late Newsletters.

Registration fee £8.

Hands on History, Lichfield

A Multi-period at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, being run by Gary Howard.

I am unable to give any further information as yet, because the site meeting is on 5th. April. This will be on the similar to Kirby Hall, but not in such a large area.

Camping from Thursday mid-day until Monday.

Registration fee £3.

Cornbury Park, Nr. Chelford, Oxfordshire

Cornbury Park. Our third commercial event this year entitled An American Dream. The same as Hoghton Tower with more entertainment. This is a superb site with acres and acres of land in a beautiful setting. More information later.

Camping from Friday mid-day until Monday.

Registration fee £5.

Best regards,

Viv Corbishley, Projects Director