130 confirmed Military vehicles to take part in the South West’s largest festival of vintage transport

The 45th Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester 2-4 August 2019 2-4 August 2019 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show now in its 45th year is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK. Set on an ex wartime airfield, the sprawling show site covers around 200 acres, with surprises around every corner, to suit young and old alike

75th Anniversary Tribute to Glenn Miller! The year’s event will also pay tribute to American Popular "big band era" bandleader - Major Glenn Miller - one of the most popular and commercially successful dance orchestra of the Swing era and greatest singles charting acts of the 20th century. 2019 commemorates the 75th anniversary of Glenn Miller performing at Cirencester in August 1944 shortly before his disappearance. Glenn Miller landed at RAF South Cerney airfield and stayed one night in Cirencester at the US Officers Mess. On Monday 7 August 1944 Glenn Miller and his band performed to 7,000 troops, doctors, nurses and injured serviceman at a special concert. Over 100 military vehicles will be present at this year’s show. As the vehicles enter the main arena, an American flag will be raised in honour of Glenn Miller, where a musician will perform along with 50+ 1940s swing dancers. The Royal British Legion Poppy Parachute Display Team, made up of serving and former members of the Army, to support and raise awareness of the Armed Forces charities will descend into the arena on all three days of the event too. Free Admission for WWII Veterans - The show would like to provide free tickets to any WWII veterans and their carers. Special parking and transportation will be provided on the showground for these veterans. To apply, please contact: [email protected] or T: 01452 260063. The show would like to provide free tickets to WWII veterans and their carers. Special parking and transportation will be provided on the showground for these veterans. To apply, please contact: [email protected] or T: 01452 260063. The varied Military section will feature military modellers, vehicles and military charities. The 100-strong display includes rare ex-RAF Scammell range of tank transporters and recovery vehicles, two B.S.A. folding WWII Paratroopers bicycles, A.E.C. a 1943 A.E.C Matador 10-ton gun tractor and Militant gun tractors, to a 1992 Leyland "DROPS", (Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System) a Russian UAZ-469 off-road military light utility vehicle manufactured by UAZ, a UAZ-452 Trackmaster off-road van, a 1944 USA International M426 articulated tractor unit, a 1942 Swiss-made Saurer 6M signal van, Matador 10-ton gun tractor, an American 1942 "FWD", a 1944 G.M.C. 2.5 ton 6 x 6 Airborne Tipper, a Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Field Artillery Tractor) used by the British and Commonwealth during the Second World War to a 1965 Commer TS3, 4 ton 4 x 4, one of 25 only made for the British Army plus a terrific "Y" Station Interceptor display of radio and military telecommunications through the eras.

The closing date to enter a military vehicle is 1 June. All contact details are available for the relevant section leader online at www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk Show Highlights include: As seen on TV - New for 2019 – The Ken Fox Wall of Death. The Fox family have been touring and entertaining since the 1920's with their Wall of Death. Ken Fox is considered to be the leading rider on the Wall of Death and the only person ever to take a steam bike on the wall! The Troupe is very much a family affair – the nucleus of the show is Ken and his two sons Luke and Alex. The riders perform incredible stunts and acrobatics on the 20ft high vertical wall on their vintage Indian Scouts. The noise, the speed, the smell, the proximity of the bikes ridden to the top of the wall, barely 6 inches from the audience is a breath-taking display of skill and balance and must be seen. In 2016 Ken Fox worked with Guy Martin in his televised attempt to break the Guinness World Records Guinness Records for the Highest speed on a Wall of Death. Live Action Arena with non-stop demonstrations from spectacular Showman’s Engines to dancing tractors plus the opportunity to drive a steam engine and the Tigers children’s motorcycle display team. Don’t miss the grand parade of miniature steam in the Alec Tanner arena or take a passenger ride on the 10¼ inch scale steam locomotive. · Vintage Fun fair with fairground organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, plus ‘Chuffy the train’ passenger rides. · The popular Dog Show will take place once again. Categories include: Scruffiest Mutt, Prettiest Bitch, Handsomest Dog, Quickest Sit, Best Child Handler, Best Rescue to Waggiest Tail. Come and enter your four-legged furry friend on the day for just £2 per entry per class (in addition to show event entry fee) all money goes to help a local animal shelter. · The Countryside Arena actively promotes animal conservation and features both fun and educational displays from a vulture flying display, ferret racing, rare breeds, alpacas, shire horses, horse logging, reptiles, bee hive making to Morris Dancing. Back by popular demand is the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ - an entertaining demonstration of shearing and sheep dancing - get into the groove with the Sheep Show Shuffle! Plus the children’s area has traditional vintage funfair games, face painting and Professor Colliwobble with his free regular Punch and Judy Shows. · Massive Trade stand zone featuring model tents, 2 large craft marquees and over 180 trade stands selling a vast array of countryside apparel, vintage clothes, tools and memorabilia. · Food & Drink - The showground site is sprawling, but there’s plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with the 1940s Radio.com broadcasting a great selection of tunes, Lindy Hop dancers plus regular sets by the ‘Steamed Up Brass’. · FREE vintage bus rides around the showground on all three days. · Bedford OB Buses Wanted! The Extravaganza is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and this is the third time that it has hosted the Bedford OB Get-Together. Indeed, the show has become a mecca for Bedford OB enthusiasts and last year's event attracted 13 examples making it the largest display of the type at any event in the country in 2018. At least 75 Bedford OB's are thought to survive although not all are roadworthy so if you have a Bedford OB and would like to take part in the 80th Anniversary Bedford OB Get-Together please contact John Hitchings, Bus & Coach section leader at: [email protected]

The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C). This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The Club has donated over £200,000 for charity in recent years. One of the charities on site is The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust that promotes awareness of Prostate Cancer who will be carrying out Psa tests over the weekend. Last year they carried out 268 Psa checks at the event, 15 of which came back as amber warnings and 19 as red warnings prompting further investigation for those men. Ultimately the test might’ve saved several lives. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers. Chairman of (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal is to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire, with something for all of the family to enjoy. Whilst the show has evolved a lot, the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, celebrate and preserve our unique transport heritage’. For further information or to purchase advance tickets please visit: www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk The show opens daily 10.00am - 5.00pm, with a free vintage bus service operating around the perimeter of the show site, and to and from Cirencester Town Centre and Kemble railway station to the show ground connecting with selected First Great Western Trains inc Stroud, Glos and Chelt. With so much to see and do, one day just isn’t long enough! For further show information, bus timetables or to purchase advance discounted tickets visit: www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk Ticket Prices: Ticket prices remain frozen for the 10th consecutive year: Fri: Adult £7, junior £4. Sat or Sun: Adult: £10, junior £5 Weekender (Fri- Sun) Adult: £15, junior: £8 Family Weekender ticket (2 x adults, 2 x junior) for all three days: £35 Children under 5 years old go free