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Nation shall speak peace unto nation.

British Broadcasting Corporation motto, 1926
Dr Montague Rendall, one of the founding governors of the BBC

 
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These links are here to help guide you to sharing and experiencing the best information on historical data, music, clothes as well as being able to join in with events throughout Europe. We will have missed some great websites and are always happy to update our network - just leave a message on the guestbook!
 
C&BLE - The Cambs and Bedfordshire Lindy Experience (C&BLE) have appeared in Film, Television, magazines and national newspapers, teaching and demonstrating the dance styles of the 1930s and 40s. C&BLE offer more than just dance classes! Take a look at their educational work for museums and organisations such as the Royal British Legion, National Trust and the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth. Hoc & Mark and Julie & Rowley will be familiar faces to anyone who has attended living history and dance events throughout the UK and mainland Europe
   
Reproduction Paperwork & Memorabilia - an excellent source of material for living history and educational purposes. The Memorabilia Pack Company's specialist field is in the reproduction of memorabilia and ephemera for companies, institutions, museums, football clubs etc. You will find everything from Victorian material, through Edwardian and WW1 sets right through to the 1950s. A classic and self contained piece of social history available for you online.
   
The New Foxtrot Serenaders have recorded and released music from the 1920s,30s and 40s with really punchy arrangements capturing the flavour and style of the period. Whilst a rich source of recorded music is available from the 'Golden Age', it is interesting to see and hear the music played with attention to period detail. The website features recordings, performance details and background - do drop in soon!
   
www.detachement40.ch - The history of the Swiss army in the first part of the 20th Century as portrayed by a group with a real attention to detail and commitment - they do so much more than just collect, preserve, study and organise static displays. Herbie, Karin and the team portray the Swiss army before and during the period of active duty of the Second World War. They show people how the lives of enlisted men & women, NCOs and officers were run on a day to to day basis. We often forget that Switzerland had to protect its borders and find a way to survive day by day , encircled by enemy forces. With original kit, equipment and period vehicles they represent the bravery of the auxiliary services who so often, stood in the shadow of other branches of active service such as the cavalry or bicycle troops.
   
Swingstyle - Frank and Katy offer a website with everything you could possibly want to know about the period 1920-49! Utilising their large private collection of artefacts, clothing and music, you will find a treasure trove of links and information here. Interesting perspective from the German homefront, with recipes and paperwork as well as background to radio and music of the period. Hosts of the stylish Trocadero Ball held regularly in Wuppertal, where Little Simon plays a superb range of dance music from the 1920's to the late 1940's, this website has interesting links to many other websites.
   
The Forties Family - the ability to represent 'everyday life on the British Home Front' is a unique skill. Here is a family group who are able to re-create the home environment and show how 'ordinary people' did their bit. The children are an absolute delight, recently helping to recreate a Village School at the Coam-On-Sea event this year with Simone Knol as the School Mistress. Mum presented the home front coping with everyday difficulties and Dad was serving with the Men of Britain Home Guard unit. Have a look at the website and see what they get up to.
   
Joeri.net - Joeri has to be one of the most enthusiastic interpreters of living history for the period 1930-45. Like ourselves, Joeri is able to provide a range of educational, production and consultancy services for all aspects of historical representation. Living and working in Holland, Joeri runs a successful Dutch resistance group and works closely with Television and Film companies as well as some of the national museums.
   
Dames Don't Care - for design, style and dance events 'with a difference' - this website has it all! The Dames host the legendary Rhythm and Swingheart Weekend in Davos, Switzerland. High in the beautiful Swiss mountains, this beautiful Art Nouveau hotel is home once a year to around two hundred people who travel from all over the world for a weekend of music and style from the 1920's to the late 1940's - regular clubs and dance events are listed along with some great design and photography.
   
The Great White Palace - Bea and Tony Porter have been friends of ours for many years and since buying, restoring, transforming and re-launching the art deco palace of the Burgh Island Hotel in the 1980s, many exciting projects have passed through the Porter's hands. From Biba in the 60s, creation of London Fashion Week in the 70s through to heritage consultancy and television appearances - they have been involved in so many exciting adventures. The story of the hotel is told in the superb book called The Great White Palace - drop into Tony's website, mention us and get your own signed copy, as well as an opportunity to buy the exclusive Burgh Island video made about five years ago, which tours the island and talks about Bea and Tony's restoration work on the hotel and the island. Magnificent.
   
The Wavy Navy - This highly professional and dedicated living history group was formed in the late 1990s to represent the 1940s’ Royal Navy and Womens Royal Naval Service. With a membership throughout the UK, they attend and create many living history events including working parties on HMS Belfast in London.
   
l'As de Cœur - l'As de Cœur maquis portray a part of the Corréze area Armée Sécret in 1944. It helped slow the 2. SS Division (Das Reich) on its way to the Normandy beachhead. Based in the USA they welcome links with other groups. Nice informative site with some great background links and related information.
   
Radiocraft - Radiocraft has for many years been a source of support, advice and restoration for our vintage wireless and television projects. The Radiocraft website has some superb links and information on all aspects of vintage radio - including a mouth-watering list of sets for sale! You won't find better service or professional restoration anywhere in the UK - guaranteed.
   
1940.co.uk - Home of The 1940's Society, which meets regularly and publishes an interesting newsletter, this website is Ian and Jan Bayley's look at wartime life and social history. There is a super on-line shop with books, CDs, Video/DVDs and items for the re-enactor. You will find some interesting articles on a range of associated topics on this well structured website which offers an insight into the British Home Front during WW2.
   
Retro L'Amour Clothing & Accessories - this website is a great resource for authentic copies of SNOODS, BROOCHES, CARDS and clothing designs based on original items from the 1930s/40s & 50s. These superb pieces have featured in a range of wartime fashion shows over the past year and now all these charming handmade items are available online. The attention to detail and quality of all Retro L'Amour products is second to none - the cards are some of our all time favourites and great value!
   
Home Front Friends - Amanda and Craig have a reputation for delivering good living history interpretations in the first person narrative. From 'Harry and Edna' living in the prefab with young Maisie, through to the Civil Defence workers and the Home Guard or Women's Land Army characters - Craig describes their approach as "edutainment - mixing the serious subjects with a little humour". Drop into their website - they would love to hear from you.
   
Jill's Cocktail Band - Jill and her band play authentic 1930s and 40s arrangements of some superb tunes. We saw them play at one of the Davos Swing & Rhythm Weekenders and they created such a timeless 'cocktail' mood, with charm and sophistication. We hope to see Jill playing here in the UK very soon - great authentic sound.
   
The Ops 39 - 45 RAF Living History Group - We have worked with this professional group of living historians on a number of occasions. From briefing sessions to flight line re-enactments, these chaps and lovely ladies of the WAAF really know their stuff. As a key element of the Merlins Over Malta commemorations in 2005, Ops 39 - 45 are one of the premier RAF groups in the UK with meticulous attention to detail - you won't find better! The Duxford V60 Celebrations in May 2005 found Claude Beaumont and Victor Daye broadcasting from 'Somewhere in England' alongside Ops 39 - 45. Their website is a rich source of photographs and historical data. Tally ho!
   
The Tiger Rag Club playing hot dance music, jazz numbers from the 1920s and 30s with early swing thrown in for good measure! The ambience and surroundings capture a pre-war dance hall - Matt has great attention to design and detail with a feast of art deco colours and period style - the photographs on the website feature the interior of the club. Music is from our old chum 'Swingshift' with guest DJs. Period dress is encouraged and the club goes from strength to strength. Travel up and make a weekend of it - lovely countryside and plenty to see.
   
La Columna is a UK based re-enactment group commemorating and celebrating the international volunteers who went to fight alongside the Spanish people in defence of the Second Republic during Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. La Columna is a non-political organisation but with strong sympathies for the Spanish Republican cause of the late 1930s. The Men of Britain Home Guard group worked alongside La Columna at the Osterley Park WW2 event in 2005 - members of La Columna hosted lectures and training sessions for Men of Britain on sabotage and tactics using lecture rooms at Osterley House and the format of the Training School for Home Guard established there during 1940.
   
divpatch.com An excellent source site for all your embroidered badges and stitched re-enactor copy badges made professionally to a very high quality. You can supply originals for copy or order from the vast stock of WW2 reproduction badges - one badge or as many as you want! Highly recommended.
   
'Biba Lives' deal in clothing from the mid to late 20th century but concentrate on the 1940's collections. They also host "Unique Events of London" putting on the large vintage fashion fairs at Earls Court with over 70 dealers selling vintage clothing and accessories. An interesting perspective of how vintage fashions are having an impact on modern styles and designers. The original Biba store in London was housed in the art deco Derry and Toms building in Kensington, opening in September 1973 - ten years previously, a mail order gingham dress advertisement had started the venture! Soon the love of style and elegance from the art deco revival of the mid-1970s created the Biba experience. The original Derry and Toms building, designed by Tim Whitmore and Steven Thomas, reflects the decadence and style of the era, originally boasting a large restaurant in the fifth-floor Rainbow Room and roof top gardens.
   
Rocket Originals An excellent source of 1940s and 1950s reproduction shoes and clothing all taken from original patterns and using high quality materials. The items here are almost impossible to find now as originals and here you have the opportunity to enjoy the style by choosing from their expanding catalogues of items. Great finish and excellent reputation for quality - you only have to read the testimonial page to find out what their customers say!
 
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