A huge thank you for the wonderful comments and greetings received at the craft fair on Sunday. I had a wonderful time and cannot wait to be back next year!
Kitten von Mew and Santa Claus!
Alpaca…you paca…we all paca!
Ssssssssanta Baby! First time holding a snake!
For those who have yet to go to this show…you must! Nestled in an old quarry mine, this open air museum hosts tram sheds, a gorgeous Victorian pub, old buildings and trams from all over the country. On entry you are given an old penny that is used to ‘buy’ your ticket on any tram you please and this ticket can be used again and again.
There is always some great entertainment at the show including singers, spivs and a wonderful parade of vehicles too. You will also fine a good handful of vintage stalls offering clothing and housewares, which I always head to first!
I did not take many pictures this year as nowt has changed. I think the most exciting difference was the addition of an open top Blackpool tram with strings of lights. It almost looked like a boat on rails!
Crich Tramway also has a lovely woodland trail for those not wearing heels.
Here are some photos for you…
Crich Tramway detail photos
Posing with a lovely vintage car!
Some detail shots of one of the beautifully restored trams
A candid shot of some soldier in a Willy’s Jeep in the parade
Interior detail of one of the double decker trams
Some of the lovely folk in their civvies
‘George Formby’ entertaining the crowds at Crich
The new Blackpool tram at the museum
I may or may not have been a bit over-tired and in a silly mood when having this taken…
Kitten von Mew, Cowgirl Calendar Cutie act
I have 2 styles of Cowgirl Calendar Cutie Posters available! One is an over 18’s (above) and the other is a family friendly (I am wearing a bra). These will be available at my events apart from Goodwood Revival for £6 and are beautifully printed on lightweight A3 card. It is the perfect addition to a reenactment camp or can be framed as an art print!
This and my new act dedicated to Terry Elliot who has been fantastic to work with these past 7 years and my fabulous supporters in the USA, not to mention Don and Steph!
Get yours at Military Flying Machine’s Show, Essex this weekend, just hunt me down! x
Here is a small selection of photos from the 1st ever War and Peace Revival! More to come I promise, but I wanted to get these up as I know some of you are chomping at the bit!
It was incredibly hot for the whole week with only a short cloudy burst on the Friday. I didn’t get around the dioramas due to a hectic schedule and feeling as if I were walking through treacle from the heat, but did get to the Vintage Village and the rest!
Miniature Jeep or 60ft woman? You decide! Kitten von Mew at War and Peace Revival 2013. Taken by RvM
Kitten signing her centre page pin-up poster of Military World Magazine. Taken by RvM
Kitten with Vicki Michelle and Sue Hodges of ‘Allo ‘Allo! Taken by RvM
Kitten the poster gal! Check out the monster banner behind! Yowza! Taken by RvM
In the Vintage Village Display watching Beverly teach someone how to darn a sock!
Photo by Kitten von Mew
Vintage textile bits and bobs on Bev’s display. Taken by Kitten von Mew
More of Bev’s display including a wonderful crochet bra! Taken by Kitten von Mew
Wet stocking been dried in the Vintage Village with Mr Mew behind! Taken by KvM
A vintage pantry display in the kitchen diorama. Taken by KvM
Kitten von Mew in the 1940’s living room diorama! Taken by RvM
Toy soldiers for sale in the market place. Taken by KvM
WW2 tin toy armoured vehicle in the market place. Taken by KvM
Sincerely Yours, Swingtime Sweethearts, Viv the Spiv and Kitten von Mew in the V Marquee
Kitten von Mew and her wonderful ‘Colonel Whiskers’, her favourite at the events. Taken by RvM
Kitten and RAF crew with one of the model spitfires at War and Peace Revival
More to come I promise!!!
I came across this lovely article on ‘tinterweb’ tonight so thought I would share! I also wanted to let you know my performance schedule for the War and Peace Revival Show. This is liable to change, but should give you some sort of timings to aim for. There will always be someone on hand to ask in the Victory Marquee!
Wednesday – Adult evening performance, time TBA
Thursday – 2 daytime performances (Family Friendly)
Friday – Family friendly daytime performance and an adult evening performance (Time TBA)
Saturday – 1 daytime performance and 1 evening performance (as part of a “floorshow” cabaret with the John Miller Orchestra) – both Family Friendly. Around 3pm and 8.45pm
Sunday – Daytime family friendly performance, around 3pm
Thursday – Live singing slot and burlesque performance from 11pm (time TBA)
Friday – Live singing slot from 11pm (time TBA)
I will also be doing picture and Military World Magazine signings, so make sure you collar me when you get the chance, because this will be one busy kitty!
See you all there!
Kitten Von Mew performing at Stratford Arts Festival, Stratford upon Avon
Don’t forget to come and support me at this great local event! I will be doing a singing set and then a burlesque routine later in the evening!
On Saturday I was lucky enough to sing at St Peter’s Church in Wellesbourne, which was playing host to a special event! Philip West (an amazing aviation artist) and the local historical society Walton History Group arrange a special celebration for the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid. This bombing raid, known as Operation Chastise was completed by the 617 squadron and Squadron Leader George L. ‘Johnny’ Johnson was there! Johnny as he is affectionately called was the bomber aimer in one of the specially modified Avro Lancaster Mk III’s and told us all about his time in the war, from training to be a pilot (which he was dreadful at and had no intention of being) to becoming a husband and bomber aimer for one of the most significant raids in WWII history.
We also had the pleasure of meeting the daughter of Barnes Wallis; the creater of the bouncing bomb too! She shared stories of how her father tested out bouncing bomb ideas in the garden using her marbles.
I volunteered to sing some 1940’s songs in exchange for one of Philip’s fabulous prints and an autograph from the artist and George Johnson! My cheeky request was accepted and I was so happy to be part of this wonderful event. Everyone was wonderful and we got to meet some amazing people such as Iris Erwin who’s husband Sgt E C Erwin was one of the Path Finders in the war and was captured and sent to a P.O.W. camp. He escaped a few times, but was soon found again and put back. He survived the war, but unfortunately no longer alive, so his wonderful wife now holds on to his amazing paraphernalia. From a rice paper P.O.W. map of Germany and the border hidden in the back of a bible to his RAF jacket, she has kept everything immaculately. She even has a wedding card in the shape of a black cat’s head of which he took with his to war and it never left his pocket, even in the prisoner of war camps. I was so taken with this wonderful lady that I am planning to ask her for an interview as a feature in Military World Magazine soon. She completely stole our hearts, especially as whilst I was singing a bit of Gracie Fields, she came and shuffling and bobbing along with her little walking stick. She reminded me a little of a wind up tin toy doll and we wanted to take her home with us!
I do not wish to say much more as I plan to do a write up on this event in the magazine, so do not want to be repeating myself! Rest assured there will be more photos added and I will post a copy of the article once it has been published!
I have just come across a lovely article about my performances on the Stratford Upon Avon Arts Festival website! A really nice write up (Albeit an old photo) so I thought I would share it with you all. I will be performing at the festival on 1st June at No.1 Shakespeare St. Just click here
Kitten von Mew outside the Imperial War Museum, London
In February we decided upon a weekend trip to London, originally to go to The Imperial War Museum and a cinema event at the Troxy. I had been waiting for a free day to visit the museum and we were so excited about it! After a rather bad night at a Premier Inn (Angry Welsh drunks shouting down the corridor and the receptionist pumping up the volume of the foyer music to ease her boredom), we got dressed and gleefully made our way to the IWM. I can honestly say that I shed a tear as we were met at the door by a security person who told us the museum was closed until late summer and that most of the WWII exhibits were being relocated to Duxford. My insides were throwing toys out of my pram as I tried to outwardly keep composure, but the poor lady saw how mortified I was.
Imperial War Museum in London, taken by Kitten von Mew
We decided to check out Churchill’s War Rooms instead as we were dressed up, so made the trek to St James’ Park over the river. The ticket price was £17 each, which seemed a tad steep, but did include an audio tour in the form of a handset. The cabinet war rooms are a maze of tunnels and rooms below the Treasury building and feature original fixings, furniture, maps and phones. You definitely need the audio guide as you walk around as it is the only thing to explain what you are currently looking at. This is nice in a way as walls are not covered with descriptions, but not great for deaf visitors (although I am sure they must have a special free guide book for that purpose).
Churchill’s War Rooms – Phone and WWII Map. Taken by Kitten von Mew
I especially liked looking at the old war maps with their pins, string and roughly penned sunken ships and notes. The coloured scramble phones were also amazing (look out for the green handled ones that were used for top secret, highly important information!). It was also great looking into Winston’s bedroom and his wife’s room further down the corridor. They had even gone to the trouble of putting out one of his cigars on the bedside table ashtray!
Winston Churchill’s bedroom in the Cabinet War Rooms. Taken by Kitten von Mew
Lighting is extremely low in the War Rooms and as the doorways to rooms are covered with clear perspex, this makes it difficult to take good photos, so excuse my efforts!
Close up of the pins and string for the maps in the Cabinet War Rooms. Taken by Kitten von Mew
The next day we dressed up in our finest to go to the Future Cinema event at The Troxy. This time it was Casablanca and the theming of the place was perfect.
Mr Mew outside the ‘Rick’s Cafe’ entrance to the Future Cinema event. Taken by Kitten von Mew
Richard and Kitten Von Mew outside the Troxy back entrance.
Interior of the Troxy. Capturing some of the action of Future Cinema’s Casablanca! Taken by Kitten von Mew.
Play it Sam! Kitten and ‘Sam’ at The Troxy.
Kitten von Mew, taken by Richard Von Mew
What a great way to watch a fabulous film and round off the weekend!
War and Peace Show Team – Ashley and Terry Elliot and Rex Cadman
The War and Peace Show has been at the Hop Farm in Kent for the past 25 years. With rumours ‘dot-dot-dash-dashing’ on the reenactor grapevine and hushed whispers of the event closing its doors, we can faithfully poo-pah rumours and say ‘huzzah!’ to the new phoenix rising from the ashes/ water logged fields. War and Peace Revival won’t be the same….it will be even better! Based at Folkestone Racecourse it has given Rex and the team scope to plan the reenactment fields and entertainment area more carefully, with better facilities for the public, vendors and performers!
Imagine watching the choreographed reenactments and vehicle displays from the grandstand…a market place dedicated to vintage fashion and homewear as well as the separate military stalls…and being able to get there by train instead of car with only a short walk to the station!
I wanted to find out what the man behind the world’s largest and most renowned military show had in store for us in 2013….
What made you decide to start again with the UK’s largest military show?
After 30 years of the show we started to feel that it had lost its momentum and was becoming a bit predictable – not perhaps to the vast majority of our public visitors, but certainly to
some of our exhibitors and Officials. After a very tough 30th anniversary show we felt we were left with two choices; to call it a day and close the show on a high, or to close it and relaunch at a new venue with a new name. Having spoken with some of our valued friends within the military vehicle world during late summer, we realised that closing the War and Peace Show without anything else was not what any of us really wanted, so we were really left with just one choice: to relaunch a new and improved version.
WWI Trench at War and Peace Show 2012, taken by Kitten von Mew
What has been your overall favourite moment?
The Sunday night Officials get together in the Dray Bar in 2000 where my friend and later business partner, Brent Pollard, who owned the Hop Farm, gave me permission to go behind the bar and pour my own beers. When spotted by the staff, who immediately attempted to take control of the beer pump on my behalf and shoo me out! Brent stepped behind the bar and said to his staff: “Rex is my friend and tonight if he wants to, he can give the whole goddamed bar away!” Those words resulted in one of the finest parties we’ve ever had, which saw over 50 Officials dancing on the bar. It was, without doubt, one of our most successful shows and many of us wanted to celebrate it and share it together.
.. and your funniest moment?
There have been so many, but I suppose one of the funniest memories we have involved my brother Rod and our workshop crew and Mike Stallwood of R&R Services and his workshop crew. Mike’s team took a corroded M38 A1 Jeep chassis and fitted a Ford Escort engine, gear box and back axle, adding military wheel rims and fairly tired bar grip tyres. Meanwhile, in our workshops, we took a very moth eaten Jeep body, one time property of Andy King, completely re-skinned it, welded on wings, bonnet, and seats, fitted a windscreen and all the little trinkets that would make it look like a wartime Jeep. Between the two workshops, both efforts were grafted together and without too close an inspection a very acceptable WW2 looking Jeep had been created.
On the Sunday of the Show, a T34 belonging to the Stallwood camp “broke down” in the Arena. Tony Lawrence, the Arena commentator was asked to put out a public address for replacement batteries to be brought into the Arena for the dead tank. The very smart Jeep miraculously appeared and drove up to the tank, parking at the rear where batteries were duly passed up to the tank crew. Meanwhile quite a substantial crowd of several thousand people lined the Arena barriers, waiting for the tank to fire into life.
All of a sudden the tank fired up, throwing up lots of black smoke – quite common on the old T34s. The driver, Tim Fuggle, rocked the tank back and forwards several times as though the brakes were sticking and all of a sudden the tank lurched backwards at speed, straight over the rather smart looking Jeep! As you can image – the gasps from the crowd could be heard for some distance. For me, the funniest moment of that entire escapade was at about 10.30pm when I was passed by two guys running hell for leather clutching a Ford Escort back axle that they had salvaged from the wreckage believing they had won themselves a gem! Like all stories, you really had to be there to see it. And to top it all, judging in those days was not the exact science that it is today – as the Jeep won Best Jeep in Show!
Can we expect any VIPs at the show (cast of war movies? Vera Lynn? Etc)
The old War and Peace Show often welcomed celebrities and VIPs, with many of them coming as private individuals. It was something that we prided ourselves on in that they felt able to visit our show without being subject to intrusive behaviour or being used as a PR tool. Over the years we’ve had royalty (foreign and British), film and pop stars, government officials and senior police and service personnel – many of them we only hear about afterwards! We’re at very early days with the planning of the new show, but we’re delighted that the cast of Allo Allo will continue to support us in our new War and Peace Revival. We fully expect the usual mix of celebrities to continue, and will as always respect their privacy. I’m reliably informed that people are amazed at who they meet in the stalls or bars at a War and Peace event. I once spent the day with a very famous local musician who seemed to know as much about War and Peace as I did. By the end of the day I had discovered how!
When you ran the first ever W&P did you ever imagine it would end up being so hugely popular and vast?
No! Actually when I became involved in 1989 as part of an organising team of two, I dragged my long suffering then secretary Barbara into the team and we set out to double the amount of vehicles that had been at the previous show. Our dream was to eventually see 1,000 vehicles – we never imagined that one day we would see 4,000!
I always knew it had scope to be something great, but I never dreamed it would get so big and with such a huge worldwide reach. We have literally welcomed visitors from every country of the world – now that’s some claim that not many shows and events can make!
Items at War and Peace 2012 in the market area. Taken by Kitten von Mew
So there you have it, the same fantastic team recreating and remoulding the greatest military show on earth so that it may become even bigger and better than it was… But don’t forget the reenactment groups who make the event what it is, if it wasn’t for their amazing displays and dedication to War and Peace then goodness knows where it would be today.
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 