Watercress Line "War On The Line" Event, June 2008: Report

Web-movie of the June 2008 event (18MB, mov format): Nic Greene

From: Penny Atkins
Sent: 30 June 2008 12:00
Subject: War On The Line
I felt the need to write and say thank you for a lovely day out on the 22nd June `War on the line'.
My two young boys aged 5 and 8 really enjoyed the whole day the have not stopped singing all the songs that we sang on the day; they now know all the words to: 'Run Rabbit, Run' !
It was a very educational day too: my older son has not stopped asking questions about the war.
Thank you very much for a lovely day out. We will be coming back again.
Regards
Penny Atkins

From: Henry ODwyer
Sent: 26 June 2008 09:21
Subject: Postcard from a friend
Hi Tony
Thought you may like this for the letters page. It's from friend and fellow photographer (brilliant photographer IMHO) Miss Jan Krusewska.
Jan organises photographic weeks/field-trips up in Snowdonia for a small group including myself. (Landscape / abandoned slate quarries, etc.)
Anyway this arrived on a postcard 25 06 08:

Hope you're enjoying Flaming June!
I was dragged by Ron, initially reluctantly, to The Watercress Line on Saturday.
I must say what a great day out. Very impressed with the 1940's paraphernalia.
Some people went to great lengths with the details of that period of fashion.
The group of kids from the local primary dressed as evacuees complete with gas masks absolutely wonderful!
We took their school address to send them a disc. Some couples in costume broke out into spontaneous dancing at Alresford Station when the (not so 40's) CD player played Glen Miller music.
I assume the Watercress Line uses volunteers to staff the stations. I hope last weekend managed to raise some funds.
The homemade cakes (1940 recipe) at Ropley station were wonderful. Ron managed 4 slices.

Jan and Ron (Pickford) travelled down from Biggleswade for Saturdays event.

Two photos: Henry O'Dwyer
Many thanks to Andrew Wilkinson for the use of his car



From: Andrew Wilkinson Sent: 25 June 2008 08:09 Subject: War on the Line 2008 Tony The war is over for another year: a big thank you to all that made "War on the line" a victory. In between my duties as an air raid warden I was there testing a prototype digital box brownie camera for the ministry (all hush-hush). My wife was engaged with the Ministry of Food, spreading the joy of spam and snoek (a type of fish). Best wishes Andrew and Pauline Wilkinson

From: Nicola Hunt
Sent: 24 June 2008 13:57
Subject: War on the Line
Dear Mr Wood
I am writing to say thank you to all who work on the Watercress Line for a fantastic day on Sunday 22nd June.
We took my 12 year old daughter and my fiancé’s parents (my future Father-in-Law is a WW2 veteran).
From the moment we stepped onto the platform at Alton we were transported back in time! The re-enactors were wonderful, bringing the whole event to life and making the journey very entertaining. The attention to detail was amazing.
I particularly enjoyed the standard of the hanging baskets and borders at all the stations - well done to the gardeners.
My daughter absolutely loved the train and went into the engine - she was caught up in the thrill of it! (She’d never been on a steam train before)
What a well organized and educational day we spent… congratulations to the organizers and volunteers.
We will definitely be back next year.
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hunt

From: Tyger Hardy
Sent: 22 June 2008 22:10
Subject: War on the Line
We have just had a fantastic day. The role playing was marvellous (particularly Private Walker and his silk knickers and the land army girl in her jodpers). Two of our party were arrested (one for having an incorrect Identity Card and the other for being Polish!)
It was all great fun and the day was topped by the Dakota flypast.
Thank you again for such a fantastic time. We were going to book for one of your dinner trains but I see by the web site you have sold out for 2008!
TYGER

War on the Line event

21st - 22nd June 2008

	Two photos of Bettie: Henry O'Dwyer

	Photos (22nd June 2008): David Warwick



	Photos (21st June 2008): Matt Allen


David Snow on Saturday filmed the Dakota over Ropley - Movie (1.2MB, 21st June 2008)