Chalke Valley ready to roll
The end of June signals the start of one of the most popular fixtures in the summer festival calendar with the Chalke Valley History Festival. The full programme for the has been announced and tickets are now on sale. The Festival will give you the chance to go back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the past, while enjoying over 200 talks, live performances, and interactive experiences. History buffs and casual festival-goers alike will have the opportunity to experience everything from thrilling jousts and medieval encampments to immersive World War II trench experiences and discussions on current political affairs.
War buffs will love the special mornings devoted to The Cold War and World War II. These two events will include live firing of a 3.7in anti-aircraft gun, and a discussion about Britain and the nuclear threat, as well as a welcome return to the festival by 102-year-old veteran Mosquito bomber pilot Colin Bell. Or maybe you’d prefer some light-hearted WWII chatter with James Holland and Al Murray as they record an edition of their We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast.
There is a new Trench experience featuring the sights, sounds, and smells of World War II through the Oosterbeek Perimeter, where the British 1st Airborne valiantly held out with diminishing supplies during the Battle for Arnhem in September 1944.
During the festival weekend, visitors can expect to see the
Medieval encampment, complete with a full joust and other activities and demonstrations. Watch skilled knights battle it out on horseback and learn about the history and culture of the Middle Ages. Meanwhile, Festival favourites will be sharing stories and historical facts and figures from across the centuries, including Max Hastings’ graphic new history of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and Michael Wood revealing the true story of The Trojan War.
As if all that weren’t enough, there will be live music throughout the Festival, with each day focusing on a different era of 20th century popular music. Festival-goers can expect to rub elbows with some of the most fascinating and accomplished historians and performers around including Michael Morpurgo, Antonia Fraser, Ian Hislop, Antony Beevor, Tracy Borman, John Major and Charlie Higson.
The show runs from 26 June to 2 July. Get your tickets at www. cvhf.org.uk. The Chalke Valley History Festival will take place at Church Bottom, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5DP.
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