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Collection |
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Most of the vehicles and military equipment are packed in two hangar like Romney buildings. Vehicles are restored, often from derelict condition, not to look pristine, but, as a tribute to their original crews, like vehicles just back from the front line, with muddy tyres and tracks, and festooned with the kit which would have been carried by the soldiers who drove them to war almost seventy years ago. |
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In 2004 the Home Front exhibits were moved out from the old barn into a new Romney type purpose built building. These displays cover Civil Defence and ARP, National Fire Service and Auxiliary Fire Service, Women's Land Army, Home Guard, WVS, Red Cross and St John. This is the world of evacuees, searchlights, Mickey Mouse gas masks, Anderson and Morrison air raid shelters. Tim has now converted the old stone barn into his home, which means he is now living on site. He now has a new workshop, another Romney extension on the Home Front building. The plan is to do some restoration / maintenance on vehicles from the collection here, and also take in some restoration work. With Tim's interest in Land Rovers, he seems to have already acquired quite an amount of various spare components. |
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" The displays are cluttered by anyone's standards, this is partly
due to a simple lack of space, but also the desire to recreate the feeling of
vehicles which are men's homes, as well as a fighting vehicle. For many men,
all they had was in or on their vehicle. We keep having shunting sessions to
fit in another vehicle, and sometimes still manage to surprise ourselves by
squeezing in “just one more”. The 1360 square yards of the two main buildings
are packed with over 60 vehicles and artillery pieces, with displays in
between. We have about 20 different military radios, from 19 Sets to the
great Canadian 52 Set on display, but profess no technical knowledge " |
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Last update 9/08/11