New Ferry is turning back the clock 81 years to 1940 and the Battle of Britain with a major display of World War Two aircraft and living history re-enactors over this coming 3 day Bank Holiday Weekend (28-30 August).
New Ferry Park, off Longfellow Drive, will be hosting this summer’s New Ferry Festival which is to feature two full-scale aircraft: a Mark 9 Spitfire and its German equivalent, a Messerschmitt 109E-4 fighter aircraft.
The two aircraft are both part original/part replica and offer a unique opportunity for the public to see these iconic aces of the air at close quarters. The aircraft are privately owned by the Derbyshire based Heappey brothers, Steve and Melvyn and offered for events through their company, Iconic WW2 Aircraft.
Guarding the two planes will be members of CH21 Cheshire Home Guard, a newly formed organisation whose members live mostly in the Cheshire and Merseyside area. Although many of its members are experienced re-enactors from other groups, this will be their first event together as part of this newly formed living history group.
They will have a period camp and be showing the real uniforms and equipment made famous by the well-known BBC comedy series, “Dad’s Army”. However, there is no comedy involved in what was a serious situation when Britain faced invasion by the Nazis in 1930/40.
John Davis, group founder and Chair of CH21 Cheshire Home Guard said, “We formed our group in 2020 during the pandemic but because of Covid have been unable to get together at any events until now.
“The aims of the group are to ‘bring the past to the present’ within our community in an engaging, informative and interactive way, and by our efforts in the public arena, acting in a manner that shows respect for all who formed the last line of defence in our country during WW2 and particularly our local Home Guard.”
The annual festival, delayed from last year because of the Covid pandemic, will also feature modern military vehicles and re-enactors portraying the British Army of more recent times.
Other attractions will include a dog show for local residents to bring their prized pooches (Saturday, 1pm) and on Sunday and Monday there will be a Birds of Prey display. On all three days there will be a funfair and a variety of stalls selling gifts, crafts, sweets, and charities with tombolas.
Chair of the New Ferry Community Land Trust, Margaret Kegg says, “This year’s festival is being funded from money given to New Ferry by the Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham’s Town Centre Fund.
“With the 18 month pandemic lockdowns and restrictions having kept so many people imprisoned in their own homes, we want this event to be a chance for everyone to come outdoors and have some fun in New Ferry. New Ferry is so proud to play host to this special event, with the aircraft and living history displays being a brilliant learning experience for the kids and adults too!”
Mark Anthony Craig, Chair of the New Ferry Residents Organisation who has organised the annual festivals since 2017 added, “We have worked closely with Wirral Council to ensure that this outdoor event is as Covid-safe as possible, with all the attractions spread out across New Ferry Park. As we are still in a pandemic situation, we would ask that anyone with Covid symptoms stays away, and that everyone who does come continues to exercise caution and to socially distance where possible.”
The organisers are also asking visitors to come to the event either on foot, or to use public transport where possible. There are several bus routes passing through New Ferry, and Bebington Station is just a healthy 15 minutes walk away. Those coming by car are asked to park in either Woodhead Street Car Park, or Grove Street Car Park.
For more details, visit: https://newferryonline.org.uk/community-announcements 
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