Diary Dates - January and February 2024

January 2024

7: Sunday. The Wolverley Militaria Fair is being held at the Wolverley Memorial Hall, Shatterford Lane, near Kidderminster, Worcs., DY11 5TN. Contact Adrian Robins on 07816 853878

14: Sunday. A militaria fair is being held at the Breckland/Thetford Leisure Centre, Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1JD. Doors open between 10am and 2pm. Full range of collectables. www.thetfordmilitariafair.com

14: Sunday. A militaria arms and armour fair is being held at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ. Wide range of collectables. Doors open between 7am and 2pm. www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

21: Sunday. A giant flea market is being held at the Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN. Full range of collectables for most interests, including some militaria. Doors open between 9-30am and 4pm. www.sheptonflea.com

27: Saturday. The South Wales MAFVA (Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicles Association) is holding the South Wales Model Show at the Y Plant School, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun, Cardiff, CF72 8YQ. Doors open between 10am and 4pm. Trades stands, demonstrations, and plenty of military-themed displays. [email protected]

28: Sunday. The Stoneleigh Militaria Show is being held at the Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, Warks. CV8 2LG. Doors open between 9am and 3pm. Wide range of collectables for most interests. Contact Amanda Lycett on 07976 777117

February 2024

1 and 2: Thursday & Friday. Members of English Heritage can book a special visit to discover the Great Tower at Dover Castle, overlooking the town from Castle Hill, in Kent, CT16 1HU. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/

4: Sunday. Chelmsford Militaria Fairs is presenting a collectors’ fair at the new venue Shenfield High School, Alexander Lane, Shenfield, Essex, CM15 8RN. Doors open between 10am and 1-30pm. Wide selection of collectables available. www.chelmsfordmilitaria.com

10: Saturday. The Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ is hosting an event with Naomi Games, the daughter of the well-known WWII graphic artist Abram Games, who will be discussing the life and times of her father. The presentation runs from 12-45pm to 2-30pm. www.iwm.uk

10 and 11: Saturday & Sunday. The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset, BH20 6JG, is hosting the South West Model Show. Doors open between 9-30am and 5pm with an opportunity to look around the marvellous collection of armour and special displays. Demonstrations, trade stands, and model displays with a military theme. www.tankmuseum.org

11: Sunday. South of England Militaria Arms and Armour Fairs is holding a collectors’ fair at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, M4 4TZ. Doors open between 7am and 2pm with a wide range of collectables available. www.chathammilitariafairs.co.uk

11: Sunday. A militaria fair is being held at the Wolverley Memorial Hall, Shatterford Lane, Wolverley, near Kidderminster, Worcs., DY11 5TN. Full range of collectables available. Contact Adrian Robins on 07816 853878.

18: Sunday. The International Birmingham Antique Arms and Militaria Fair is being held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, B92 0EJ. Extensive range of collectables are available. www.birminghamarmsfair.com

22: Thursday. A special presentation is being made at St Mary’s Church, Southwick, Hants., PO17 6DX in the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with guest speaker Stephen Prince presenting a talk titled ‘Ship to Shore: The Evolution of the Allied System of Command for Normandy’. Assembly begins at 6-30 with the presentation commencing at 7pm. This is part of the ‘Southwick Speaks’ presentation. www.southwickrevival.co.uk

25: Sunday. The Bromsgrove Militaria Medal and Arms Collectors’ Fair is being held at the Council House, Parkside/Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs., B61 0AE. Doors open between 9am and 1-30pm. Full range of collectables available. www.militariafairsuk.com

25: Sunday. A militaria and medal fair is being held at the Yate Leisure Centre, Kennedy Way, Yate, near Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, BS37 4DQ. Doors open between 10-30am and 2pm. Full range of collectables available, but please note firearms are not sold at this venue. Contact Mark Carter 01753 534777 or 07871 777062.

25: Sunday. The Universal Model Show, South Cheshire Militaire 2024, is being held at the Milbach School and Sixth Form College, Welsh Row, Nantwich, Ches., CW5 5HD. Doors open between 10am and 4pm. Trades stands, demonstrations, displays, and wargames, some with a military theme.www.scmmc.co.uk

Other items of interest

• The Royal Armouries in Leeds have a daily programme of live-action shows and presentations featuring a range of topics which are worth considering. www.royalarmouries.com

• If you are a member of English Heritage, or you have been lucky enough to be given membership as a Christmas present, then you are in for a rare treat. Dover Castle, overlooking the town from Castle Hill, in Kent, CT16 1HU, is opening the tunnels beneath the castle for members to visit over two weekends throughout January 2024. These tunnels were codenamed ‘Dumpy’, and the ticketed tour will take you through these excavations where so much history unfolded. The weekends are 11-12 and 18-19 January and tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/

• The exhibition at the National Army Museum in Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT, titled ‘Foe to Friend’, continues to be displayed until 21 August 2024. This tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of British soldiers serving in Germany as part of the BAOR within NATO and the effect their presence had on the German people. A fascinating period from the ‘Cold War’ and revived memories of veterans who took part in large NATO exercises such as Reforger and Lionheart. www.nam.ac.uk

• The exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ, titled ‘Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles’ will be ending on 7 January. This is the last chance to see this absorbing presentation. www.iwm.org.uk