AN exciting weekend celebrating the 60th anniversary of VE/VJ days in Okehampton has been given a big boost with a cash grant from the National Lottery. The second Dartmoor Military Heritage Weekend is due to take place at Okehampton Camp on September 10 and 11 and has been organised in conjunction with camp personnel and Okehampton branch of the Royal British Legion. Peter Williams, Okehampton RBL secretary, said he was delighted to announce that the branch had secured £1,000 from the Home Front Recall programme, which will help the weekend be celebrated in style. He said: ?The money will primarily cover the costs of bringing the Royal British Legion?s National Youth Band down from Brentwood in Essex. ?This band, comprising musicians aged 12 to 19, has secured an international reputation for musical excellence. ?Apart from the usual musical interludes, the band will perform a beating the retreat ceremony at the end of the first day, and will provide a marching display on the Sunday morning, before departing for home next day.? Col Tony Clark, commandant Dartmoor training area, said the weekend was going to be ?incredibly exciting?. ?We had 1,000 people here last year for the first military heritage weekend ? and we?re aiming for far more this year. ?It?s a wonderful opportunity for Okehampton, along with the military and the whole of the community, to celebrate VE and VJ Day.? Col Clark said last year?s military heritage weekend was the first time in living memory the camp had ever been opened to the public. He said: ?Such was the sense of the event, despite the weather, that it really inspired all of us to do it again. ?It was such fun and so enjoyable for us to meet up with old soldiers, people with an interest in the military and those youngsters who were thinking of joining the forces ? it really broke down barriers, so I hope this year will be even more successful.? The event will be opened with a parade by the Royal British Legion through Okehampton town centre, led by the national youth band. They will be joined by contingents of the Okehampton detachments of the Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps ? an allied military vehicle evoking memories of the second world war will join the rear of the parade. There will be displays and attractions to entertain all ages at Okehampton Camp throughout the weekend. These will include Royal Marine and Army demonstrations of modern equipment and training techniques, obstacle courses and laser training displays by Devon Army Cadets. In addition, there will be military history re-enactments, military vehicle displays and Dartmoor National Park guided walks. Other attractions include an audio-visual history of Dartmoor, visits to military historical sites and the Dartmoor Military Museum. The camp will be open between 10am and 6pm on Saturday September 10 and between 10am and 4pm on Sunday September 11. A free bus shuttle service will be operated between Okehampton and the camp, there will be free car parking and entrance to the event itself.
