People of Heckmondwike got the chance to step back in time to the 1940's at the weekend when Ponderosa Rare Breeds Farm held its third annual 'Spam' Wartime weekend on the 10th and 11th of July 2010. Thousands of people including hundreds of re-enactors dressed in period uniforms and civilian outfits flocked to the event which included a flypast by a vintage Dakota aircraft, a fashion show with 1940s clothing, stalls, vehicle displays, firing displays and battle re enactments from both the Eastern and Western fronts.
Living history displays by the Northern World War Two Association gave visitors the feel of what life in the field would have been like for troops during the conflict with groups portraying British Paratroops from the 22nd independent Company 6th Airborne,Infantry from the East Yorkshire Regiment, Soviets oif the 13th Guards, US airborne troops from the famous 101st "Screaming Eagles", and the German armed forces from the GrossDeutschland Regiment, 21st Panzer Division, Deutches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) and German field police. Saturday evening included a dance with live music from the 1940s performed Paul Harper, Lola Lamour & The Big Dearne Band.
Debbie Burton, one of the event organisers, estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people visited over the weekend, saying
“This is the third year we have done this and it has been bigger than ever,”
