Armed Forces Day for Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire
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Date27th June 2009
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PlaceFawley Hill, Fawley, Henley on Thames, RG9 6JA
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Web
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This was one of the biggest and best events of the year!
There was a variety of attractions including steam train rides (see below), a family-friendly fun fair,
with ferris wheel and dodgems, carousel and swing-boats, plus
small stuff for 'tinies'.There were musicians and stars of every generation, including a unique rock band from 17:00.
There was an amazing air display including: a Merlin helicopter, nine Tiger Moths, a Spitfire & Hurricane, and lots more.
There were also military displays and exhibitions with tanks, BIG guns and First & Second World War stuff; craft displays & demonstrations: potter, bodger, lacemaker, jeweller, didgeridoos!; cookery demonstrations, candy floss & ice creams; pony rides & petting 'zoo' with London zoo's experts; arts & crafts for children and clowns & face-painters. And of course lots of interesting cars!
There was plenty of food & drink: pig roasts, pizzas, cakes & ale etc, all sponsored and supplied by a variety of well-known national companies.
Veterans' Day to Armed Forces Day
There were veterans' days from 2006 to 2008, and this year a celebration of current armed forces was added,
so creating Armed Forces Day.The date commemorates the first investiture of the Victoria Cross, in Hyde Park, London on 26th June 1857.
Fawley Hill
Fawley Hill is very close to the meeting point of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
It is in beautiful countryside where the Chilterns meet the river Thames, near Henley, but also near Hambleden,
where many of us were earlier in May.The hosts for this event were Sir William & Lady Judy McAlpine. "Bill" McAlpine is famous for his (private) standard gauge railway in his garden!
