The invasion of Ingleton (From Craven Herald)

The invasion of Ingleton

3:24pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in News

There was an added poignancy to this year’s Operation Homeguard event in Ingleton at the weekend.The event – which takes the village back to the 1940s – is now in its seventh year and among the regular performers are pupils at Ingleton Middle School.

But the school is due to close at the end of this month so the youngsters gave a swing dancing display for the final time.

“There was a big audience for their very last display,” said organiser Elaine Ward.

The weekend attracted about 2,000 visitors, including members of re-enactment groups across the region who played out the liberation of a German-occupied French market town by Allied forces.

Attractions included a military parade led by the City of Bradford Pipe band, an afternoon tea dance, a display of 1940s fire engine and performances by the Helen Howard School of Dance and the Ovaltineys.

Music from Major Swing kept visitors dancing in the street.

There was also a sell-out dance with the Mike Brown Swing Band and a flypast by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

“We were exceedingly lucky with the weather,” said Elaine.

“It kept fine until just before we were due to pack up on the Sunday.”

She and her husband, John, are now preparing for the village’s Wild West Weekend on September 15 and 16 before Operation Homeguard returns on July 6 and 7, 2013.