Whittington

Whittington Barracks 12/13th July 2003

by Caileigh and Ursula

It was the 125th anniversary of something or other, couldn't quite get close enough to read the polo shirts. {The founding of the barracks - Ed}
Very, very, very hot!!!! However watching the passing soldiers was more than enough compensation!
Small displays on both days as numbers were small but a large crowd was present (until the WW2 display started!). I think the highlight of our and their weekend was watching the various members of the training regiments try to shoot a musket (we have pictures), they even managed to find the sighting, but couldn't get used to the fact that there was no kick back though they jumped back of their own accord once they fired. Pike drill with them was also amusing since they complained about weight and unwieldiness and kept dropping them, whereas we, not being the size and build of a brick outhouse had, of course, no trouble.

Other attractions included a fly-by, [or flypast as the rest of us know it - Ed] which in fact appeared to be just lost and a parachute jump by the red devil (or something) team. For some reason whenever the WW2 people were in the arena the whole site was covered in bright orange smoke, as opposed to the black smoke generated when the stunt team tried putting out fires by throwing motorbikes at them!

There was the usual accompaniment of fairground rides and of course the abseiling tower, where the children were good, the adults were rubbish and the soldiers severely scared those watching since it wasn't a matter of walking down the side so much as falling down and hitting the ground running. Not forgetting of course the football tournament, which the ambulance used as an excuse to turn on sirens and lights and speed to the twisted ankle of whichever 10-year-old child screamed loudest.

[Do you think they enjoyed it? - Ed]