Bringing History Alive In The Home Front Marquee!
We’re delighted to announce our fantastic Speakers for 2026....more to follow!
Paul Beaver is a leading aviation historian, broadcaster and author - as well as an historic airplane pilot who has been flying the Spitfire since 2011. He has written more than forty books including Spitfire People, Spitfire Evolution and Winkle: The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot. As well as being an author, Paul has been a television war reporter, journalist, a parliamentary advisor and served twenty-seven years in the Territorial Army, rising to the rank of Colonel in the Army Air Corps.
Mark Cann is the Chief Executive of the Burma Star Memorial Fund, a charity dedicated to honouring the legacy of those who served in the Burma Campaign of the Second World War.
A recognised voice on remembrance and military history, Mark regularly speaks at schools, public events, and commemorations, bringing to life not only the strategy and scale of the Burma Campaign but also the extraordinary human stories behind it and why they continue to matter today.
Peter Singlehurst will be joining us in the Home Front Marquee on Saturday and Sunday to deliver a fascinating talk on the campaign medals of World War II and will provide an overview of how to research them. We are hugely grateful to Peter, who will generously make time after his talks to answer visitors’ questions about researching their own family medals. Peter is a recently retired RAF officer with a long-standing interest in British Orders, Decorations, and Medals. Over many years, he has researched the stories behind these medals, publishing numerous articles in specialist publications. He is also a member of the Orders and Medals Research Society.
Oliver Davey has always been interested in the Second World War. While investigating the story of his great aunt, who married an American serviceman, he discovered many locals with memories of the ‘friendly invasion’ by the Yanks! Realising the number of stories that could be recorded, he started Yanks In Bristol website and became an expert in Americans in Bristol in the Second World War. Starting at Clifton College, the headquarters of US First Army, Oliver’s talk will lead a virtual tour of the city, visiting key sites for the US Forces in the build up to D-Day. With personal stories from both Bristolians and American GIs, the tour will encompass ships, warplanes, US Army trucks, excited children, Anglo-American marriages, life-long friendships and emotional departures. It will also look at the lives of the African American servicemen, how they were welcomed to the city but faced prejudice from their fellow countrymen.
We’re delighted to welcome Utility Jude once again to demonstrate some ration saving recipes in her Wartime Kitchen. But she needs to look sharp if she is visited by the Minstry of Food Inspector, Mr B. Hazell who will be on hand to answer any of your ration book queries and to show how the Ministry is making sure that the new canteens are helping us all keep fit and healthy in Wartime.
Mike Brown returns to share his engaging talk, A Child’s War, exploring the experiences of children during the Second World War. While the topic includes evacuees, it also sheds light on the often-overlooked stories of those who remained at home, offering a broader perspective on childhood during wartime. A former Head of History at a London comprehensive school, Mike Brown began writing when he found there was no suitable book on the Home Front for his pupils. What started as a single project grew into an impressive body of work - 27 books focusing largely on civilian life during WWII, written for both young readers and adults. His work brings history vividly to life, covering aspects such as home life, fashion, food, Air Raid Precautions (ARP), and the contrasting experiences of evacuated children and those who stayed behind.
Carol Brown will this year be exploring everyday life on the Home Front during wartime, looking at how people adapted to major changes such as the blackout, air raid shelters, rationing, and growing their own food. She will examine the impact of the Dig for Victory campaign and similar initiatives that encouraged communities to become more self-sufficient. Carol Harris is an author who specialises in women’s experiences during the two world wars of the twentieth century. Born in London, she grew up in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, before returning to the capital as a teenager to train as a news reporter. She continues to work as a journalist, writing mainly about health and social care. Alongside writing books and articles, Carol gives talks, works with various broadcasters, and is currently an interaction volunteer at the Imperial War Museum.
Cathy Faulkner will be reading excerpts from her debut novel, Digging for Victory, which was published by Firefly Press in 2023 and was longlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal, the Branford Boase Award and the UKLA Book Awards. It was shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards, and featured in The Sunday Times Best Books for Children 2023. Cathy used to be a primary school teacher and now works at the University of Bristol. For more information, please visit www.cathyfaulkner.co.uk.
Getting Your Weekend Off To A Swing!!
It wouldn’t be Dig For Victory without our resident DJ - DJ UXB. He’ll keep you dancing all weekend in the Victory Marquee!
You love him, we love him - Dickie Lines is back at Dig For Victory with an array of familiar wartime characters. See Dickie in our Victory Marquee throughout the weekend.
The Satin Dollz London deliver big band glamour with lush lead vocals, tight harmonies, and irresistible vintage style, delighting audiences across the UK. Since launching in 2016 as part of The Satin Dollz’ expansion from Hollywood, they have headlined sold-out concerts, toured theatres nationwide with The Jive Aces, and appeared at iconic events including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Royal Chelsea Flower Show, and international anniversary celebrations. Polished, playful, and effortlessly glamorous, The Satin Dollz London bring timeless songs and unforgettable live vocal performances to every stage.
Led by vocalist John P and joined by musicians from the Capitol Swing collective, this stylish swing and jazz trio celebrates favourites from the American Songbook. Expect hard-swinging rhythms, smooth melodies, and timeless classics made famous by the greats of the golden age of jazz. A popular act on the Bristol scene and across the UK, the trio brings vintage swing energy with contemporary flair — perfect for dancing, listening, and soaking up classic jazz vibes.
Graeme & Ann are Hoppin’ Mad—twice-crowned UK Lindy Hop champions who’ve been spreading swing fever across the globe, from New York and San Francisco to Sydney, Denmark, and beyond (basically anywhere people want to dance). They’ve lit up jazz festivals, the Miami Art Deco Festival, and screens big and small, with credits aplenty. Specialists in authentic 20th-century jazz and swing, Graeme & Ann learned Lindy Hop in the 1990s swing revival from original Swing Era dancers like the legendary Frankie Manning, and now, from their base in Bath, they run the longest-running weekly swing classes in Bristol and Bath, keeping the spirit alive.
Beth Burdge is a wonderful soprano making her debut at The Dig For Victory Show. Beth is a vocal specialist from Wells Cathedral school and will be singing classical wartime hits.
We are thrilled to be welcoming Weston Brass to the show for the first time this year. Weston Brass are a traditional amateur brass band and will be joining us on Sunday for our Service of Remembrance and later in the Victory Marquee.
Professor Paul Wheeler’s Punch & Judy is back to keep you entertained in the Victory Square! So you don’t miss seeing this classic show, Mr Punch and all his friends will be appearing three times on Saturday and Sunday.
Not to be missed, this year’s Fashion show on Saturday embraces the theme of Leisure, with models showcasing outfits inspired by their working roles and the ways they spent their free time. Many will be dressed in vintage and handmade pieces, celebrating the true spirit of the 1940s and continuing the message of “Make Do and Mend.”