Essex: Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome events announced

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome has announced two weekends of living history events to give people a glimpse into life during the two conflicts.

The events, which run across three days, will take place on Sunday, June 15, and Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22.

The first weekend will be a Royal Flying Corps Living History event, where people can meet 'living historians' acting as pilots and members of the Armed Forces based at the aerodrome during the First World War.

Living historians from The Lufberys recreate the Royal Flying Corps era (Image: Kevin Gribble)

Wilkin and Sons will be on site with a roadshow and tasters of the Tiptree jams, and Nick Wickenden, curator of the Wilkin amd Sons Museum, will be speaking about the history of the 140-year-old jam company, events from the First World War, and the company's link with Stow Maries.

The following weekend will then take visitors back to the aerodrome's Second World War days.

When the RFC and RAF were no longer based at the Stow Maries, the site was being used as Flambirds Farm.

BBMF Spitfire (Image: Darren_Harbar)

History re-enactors will be playing members of the Women's Land Army, the Women's Volunteer Service and the County War Agricultural Executive Committee of Essex.

Historian and author Stephen Nunn will present an illustrated talk based on the book Maldon, the Dengie and Battles in the Skies (1939-1945).

Visitors will also have the chance to see a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, showcasing the Supermarine Spitfire on Saturday and the Avro Lancaster on Sunday, weather permitting.

Women's Land Army volunteers in WW2 (Image: MERL)

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome chief exec Ian Flint said: "Our role at Stow changed dramatically between the First World War and the Second World War, and these authentic living history events capture the heart of our vital wartime service both as an aerodrome and later as a farm."

These events are included in the standard admission, and visitors who buy an advance ticket for Saturday, June 21, receive free admission for Sunday, June 22.

The aerodrome is usually open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm.