Recently announced as one of The Excellence in Retailer Initiative Award finalists for its involvement in Holt’s 1940s weekend, independent store Bakers and Larners is well underway with plans for the town’s next historic event.
Now in its sixth year, Holt’s 1940s weekend takes place from September 14-15. The town dresses up and ‘time-travels’ back to the wartime years with music and activities.Chairman of the event’s organising committee and Bakers and Larners’ director Duncan Baker says the weekend is becoming “world famous,” with visitors expected from New Orleans Museum this year.
The event provides a “big boost for the community.” says Duncan, and all money raised goes to local charity with some link to the wartime. This year’s fundraising will go to a community centre with a café that cooks meals for the elderly.
The Bakers’ Cookshop team got behind last year’s event by wearing 1940s costume and creating wartime meals in the store’s Complete Kitchen demonstration area. Customers enjoyed sampling some 40s favourites, including Rabbit Stew, Vegetable Stew and Suet Pudding. The shop’s windows (complete with wartime sandbags) included enamel-ware as well as vintage tins dating back to the 1940s.
Sharon Hayman, Bakers and Larners’ cookshop manager also delighted the town by singing wartime songs outside the shop. Sharon was compere for singing sensations The D’Day Darlings from TV’s Britain’s Got Talent, who performed over the weekend.
The singing group will return for this year’s 1940s weekend and David Van Day (from the 1980s pop band Dollar) is giving a ‘sounds of the 40s’ concert for dementia sufferers (including war survivors and potential veterans). There will also be a ‘Best Dressed’ competition, Children’s Party, Pigeon Racing and the return of the popular Ration Book trail.
The release of ‘Doves of Peace’ will be a tribute to those that fought and worked for the war effort.
* The retailer finalists for The Excellence in Housewares Awards can be seen HERE.
Top: Bakers and Larners’ Duncan Baker (in the 1940s style trilby hat) and The D’Day Darlings at the 2018 Holt 1940s weekend.
