The war that won’t go away William Croke

leT’S danCe The War aWay: revellers dress for the occasion as the english town of Pickering transforms itself back in time to the 1940s for its annual rail in Wartime event.

Move along there: Dad’s Army takes on the might of the British navy during Pickering’s Rail in Wartime celebration.

n William roke The war that won’t go away

Each ctober the English town of Pickering in orth orkshire celebrates the years of struggle in World War with a massive three-day party that fills the streets with 30,000 visitors

For 51 weeks each year, Pickering is just a sleepy English market town on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. Then, for a three-day weekend in mid-October, the town explodes into life as its 7,000 inhabitants, bolstered by up to 30,000 visitors, celebrates the end of World War II in an explosion of 1940s-themed exhibits, street parties, recipe demonstrations, flea markets and reenactments of wartime events. Organised by the North Yorkshire Moors Railways charity, the “Railways in Wartime” weekend has become so popular that events have sprung up all over the surrounding area. But, despite its emphasis on fun and food, the organisers have ensured that the grave undertones of the war are remembered in the town and at the nearby port of Whitby, which suffered at the hands of German bombers.

Last year more than 26,000 people visited Pickering alone, most of them dressed in 1940s costume, while Whitby saw an influx of 5,000 passengers, who arrived on special

INVA SION : German troops disembark at Levisham railway station.

Left: The invaders launch a mortar attack, as members of the French resistance get ready for battle, armed with a pistol, tommy gun and . . . onions. (above).

On the st reets : Locals and day-trippers enjoy the weekend fun in the packed streets of Pickering in North Yorkshire.

wartime-vintage steam trains.

The event has had its moments of controversy. In 2018 a German wartime reenactment group which had, for 12 years, turned the railway station at Levisham into ‘Le Visham’, a German-occupied town in northern France, was forced to withdraw after national tabloids were ‘horrified’ that gun-wielding Nazi soldiers should be parading through English streets.

This year, however, the festival faces a larger challenge with the current war against the coronavirus shutting down all mass gatherings. The shutdown, says PM Boris Johnson, should only last a few months. But the government made the same vague promise at the outbreak of World War II - and that lasted six long years. – Tony Sutton

Bulldog sp irit 1: A Churchill double declares victory.

HIDE YOUR DAUGH TER S: The Yanks are here! On yer bike: Wild ride through the streets of Pickering.

The photographer

William Croke was one of the North of England’s leading wedding/society photographers until his retirement in 2017. He now lives in Whitby. These photographs were taken during the Railways in Wartime events from 1914-1919.

Railway in Wartime 2020 This year’s event is planned to be held in Pickering from October 9-11, assuming the coronavirus restrictions are lifted. l For latest information, go to www.welcometopickering.co.uk

Bulldog sp irit 2: Union-jacketed British Bulldog snuggles up to an American admirer.

This year’s event is planned to be held in Pickering from October 9-11, assuming the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Bill Croke was one of the North of England’s leading wedding/ society photographers until his retirement in 2017. He now lives in Whitby. These photographs were taken during the Railways in Wartime events from 2014-2019.