AN appeal has been made for volunteers to help out during Barnard Castle’s 1940s weekend.
Organised by the town council, Barney will step back in time from June 22 to 24, with a number of activities planned for the weekend ranging from an RAF Spitfire flypast and exhibition of period vehicles to live music and dancing.
Deputy clerk Jane Woodward said volunteers were needed for a variety of roles.
“We need volunteers to hand out leaflets, man the cobbles and signpost visitors and people arriving,” she added.
“It is useful to have as many people about as possible, mainly on the Saturday and Sunday.”
The town council’s partnership committee was told the event – in its third year – now has a dedicated website – www.barnardcastle1940s.uk.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will arrange the Spitfire flypast, although the time has yet to be confirmed.
For the first time, English Heritage is supporting the event, providing free entry to the castle on both Saturday and Sunday.
Town clerk Michael King said: “They would like to use the weekend as a trial and are very keen for some planned activities to take place in the castle grounds as a way to better integrate the castle into the event and ensure visitors to the town are drawn into the castle.
“The 1940s weekend will be promoted via English Heritage media channels and social media pages.”
Town mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse said: “It is fantastic that the castle is open for the two days. We need to think of putting some things in there to attract a different type of audience.”
Cllr Roger Peat said more non-military vehicles were needed for the display on the cobbles.
“The Army vehicles seem to be around, but not the cars. If anyone knows of any, they would be very welcome.”
Councillors were told tickets were now on sale for a performance by the Vintage Belles at The Hub, Shaw Bank, on Friday, June 22.
Priced £10, they are available from the town offices at Woodleigh, on Scar Top.
Tickets for the 1940s dance, at St Mary’s Parish Hall, Newgate, the following night, Saturday, June 23, are also on sale.
The dance will feature music from Damaris Jean and the Ragtime Swing and Blues Band.
Priced £15, they are also on sale at the town office at Woodleigh.
New for this year’s 1940s weekend will be the 29th Field Kitchen, which will be cooking up a storm in the grounds of Woodleigh across the weekend.
Details of other activities are still being finalised, and councillors were told the next meeting of the 1940s weekend project team would take place on April 30.
Members noted the information.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
