CH 21 - Eastham Home Guard WW II Living History Community Events

23/07/2024

I AM FURIOUS ABOUT THIS

The 1872 statue in Kensington Gardens has been labelled ‘offensive’.

07/07/2024

Some pics of our last group community event St David's Eastham With Lilli.

Thanks again all those who attended and again very special thanks to Kelly for the Good Luck card and fantastic gift which I will treasure!

22/06/2024

Well all. What a great day. Numbers exceeded all expectations and as always despite the dissapointments the group have experience since Hooton Park you turned out in numbers from far and wide.

Kelly and Rachael
Ted and Mable Markowicz plus mum and dad
Tony Piggott
Ryder Verdu
Mike McCarthy
Graham Jones
Bill Peers plus vehicle
Dave Plumb plus bike
Damien Thomas plus bike

Plus all those too numerous to mention who came to show their support within the community

A very special thanks for the gift and the card Kelly and Rachael ..such a lovely thought

Another special thanks to Mike's wife Jean for working from the early hours to make so many cakes.

Thanks to the Elders and congregation of St David's URC for your ongoing trust, ongoing support and valued friendship. You have done so much for us

Thanks to Judith St David's Church leader for putting up with my scary sence of humour !

Finally, to all members of CH 21.... it has been a privilege and an honour to be part of such a fantastic committed and loyal group. I know that what we have achieved will live on in the name of CH 21 in the future.

I know that I have badgered, pushed, pinged you all hours of the nite and bombarded you with information overload over the years and you have patiently put up with it..... its just my way. Maybe its my OCD. Or maybe its because I was passionate about a dream. Any thanks all..

I will be keeping a close watch on the group's activities, and when and if I can will always give my full support.

I salute you all 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

19/06/2024

If anybody wants a slot and a table for selling stuff or trading on Saturday, can you let me know ASAP please as I am having a short planning meeting tomorrow with the hosts.

Additionally I have so far accounted for 3 possible vehicles. Bills, Howard's and Daves.

If more spaces is needed can you also let me know.

Will need one Home Guard to man the gate if possible, but no worries if you can't I will get a civvies to do it.

Mike MCarthy is buying the provisions on my behalf plus Jean is making her memorable cup cakes!

17/06/2024

A RE-POST .....

A few weeks ago I put out a notice re an afternoon event here in Eastham, and a few of you indicated that you would like to support this.

14:00 - 16:00 at St David's URC. Saturday 22nd June

Lilli is joining us and I will be subsidising the event costs as as a thank you for their help.

Could I have a revised list of those coming please ?

The church have given us free use of the massive church hall and ancillary rooms. The hall has a stage and its been proposed that we hold a 40's dance at some time in the future. The church is fighting hard on our behalf in the community and has become a major ally of the group.

Mike McCarthy will be showing history items on the big screen.

Home Guards, ARP, vehicles, and displays welcome plus anyone wanting to sell.

It's not a massive event but an important one.

Thanks all.

At the time. The following signified their hope to attend.

This will be the last event I will have organised for CH 21 so it will be nice to see as many of the group as possible to say thank you.

Mike McCarthy ( history talk main Hall )

Lilli Moore ( church for singing )

Dave Plumb

Darren Thompson ( subject to his circumstances )

Bill Turnbull ( and his music plus Bric a Brac stall )

Tony Piggott

Bill Peers

Rachael and Kelly.

As I have said. I am funding this event as a thank you.

Anybody wanting to do a display or a stall for selling is welcome.

I am really struggling with my mobility at the moment but will be meeting with the church on Thursday to discuss details so if those of you above can still make it can you please let me know before then.

Anybody else ease also let me know.

Thanks all

06/06/2024

Thanks to those who were able to come to last night's meeting.

As there were only a hand full of you, I thought I should post details of my plans for my future with CH 21 for the rest of you.

The past few months have been extremely difficult for me personally. In fact it is true to say in many ways the most difficult and challenging times I have known.

During this time and despite the challenges of personal health, property problems, mobility issues, multiple other personal issues and the day to day increasing challenges of every daily life, I have nonetheless continued to search for a solution as to what I can do to secure the future of CH 21 in its current form and following its departure from Hooton Park.

Regrettably I have failed to come up with a plan despite my best efforts, as dissapointment after dissapointment has left me bereft of ideas.

I am now having to face the reality of dismantling the structure of the group and disposing of its assets.

This is a massive task and one ( along with all the other personal issues I am facing) that is fully my responsibility and one which I personally have to deal with and is going to take significant time and effort

As a result of this, I am sad to have to have to admit defeat and withdraw from future active involvement with the group. This decision has not been taken lightly and has hurt me deeply, though I am sure it will be a source of great rejoicing for many non CH 21 members !

All of this means that from henceforth I will not be involved with the group's external activities and will be leaving all group planning in the hands of Dave Plumb who is a brilliant organiser as you all know.

The creation of CH 21 was a personal dream, and one which I have been extremely fortunate to have shared with so many of you and I will never be able to adequately repay your loyalty, support and dedication. The only words I can find are a simple but heartfelt Thank You! It has been an honour and privilege to work with all of you and I only wish a way could have been found to continue providing you with the kind of group structure that you all deserved and I had dreamed of.

As a final note and as some of you know already, the last event I will be organising as a member of CH 21 is a small community event at St David's Church Eastham, which I am funding as a thank you to the elders of the church, who have given me so much support and who have provided me with free storage for some of the group archive and a place to work.

Lilli will be singing and I Hope as many of you as possible will come and support the event which takes place from 14:00 - 16:00 on Saturday 22nd June. The venue is St David's URC Mill Park Drive Eastham

It will be a very relaxed affair and a nice way for me to bow out.

I will post again nearer the time.

Once again my sincere thanks to all my friends in CH 21. I wish the group well as it goes forward and adapts to a new future

22/09/2023

04/09/2023

Perfect day for some me time on "Little Star" ( Darren's Narrow Boat )

03/08/2023

This coming Sunday (August 6th), why not come and visit your own local Home Guard ("D" Coy 21st Bat Cheshire Home Guard ) at the historic Ellesmere Port Boat Museum National Waterways Museum. The Boat museum is one of our favourite locations, with friends that always make us welcome and we are thankful to be considered regular visitors to this great community asset. CH 21 Home Guard WW II Living History group will be portraying the 18th Bat Liverpool pals who have a special connection to the area having been billeted at our group's home and HQ at Hooton Park - just down the road, just a stones throw from the Boat Museum.

Come and see us, along with other re enactors and enjoy conversation and stories from those representing our brave forebears and have a great day out at a superb venue.

See you there folks !

11/07/2023

Below are the latest event schedules for the group

We would like to encourage all members of the group to support as many of these events as possible

All will be welcome in either an active or support role...
Latest list below:

JULY 14th
GREAT SUTTON LADIES GROUP (20 LADIES) 10:30-12:30
JULY 26th

JULY 30th
HPT OPEN DAY

AUGUST 4th
WIRRAL MOTOR CLUB MEET

AUGUST 6th
EPBM WW I EVENT

AUGUST 13th
BUS RUNNING DAY AT HOOTON

AUGUST 27th
HPT OPEN DAY
SEPTEMBER 9th/10th
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

Please feel free to get in touch for information on any of the above events

06/06/2023

🙌🏽 Come and join us this Sunday (11 June) when we'll be bringing history to life with an immersive World War II Living History Day, hosted by our friends from the CH 21 Home Guard WW II Living History Group - Wirral who’ll be dressed in uniform and showcasing a range of wartime memorabilia to give our visitors a unique insight into this critical period of history.
🎆 ‘Just like the history books, but noisy!’ We're also really looking forward to welcoming ‘The Armed Historian’, Steve Cawood who’ll be hosting a ‘Musket to Machine Gun in 30 Minutes’ display and commentary at 12pm and 3pm… Be warned - the display includes some firing!
🚒 We're thrilled to announce that the much-loved and admired Green Goddess Fire Engine will also be on display.
🎶 Live entertainment throughout the day from the wonderful vintage singer Lily Moore.

👉🏽 Entry is FREE with a museum annual pass: Family £28.50, Adult £11.75, Concession £10.50, Child £8.50 ,Under 6 are Free Your ticket allows you to return as often as you like for one year.
🐶 We are dog friendly 🥰

Join us for an immersive Living History Day where the CH21 Home Guard will be hosting a day filled with history.

18/05/2023

14/05/2023

Sincere thanks and praise to all who came to EPBM today.

A great and succeceful day that went like clockwork.

Thanks to Darren who made a huge difference with logistical support. Thanks also to Bill Turnbull and the Home Guard Songsters for the musical entertainment, to Graham Bouckley and his team for a great display, to Ian Starnes and his team and Jonny and to Derek who never fail to make an impression.

Finally to Cath Logan, Sharleen & co for making us so welcome. Its always a pleasure doing events there and we can look forward to many more.

Thanks also to Sgt David Brown for ensuring all was correct and to Atie and very dubiius medical table.

In fact all of you and to our several new members who we were able to work with for the first time.

Finally, It was great to meet up with CH 17 again after so long and to see their display.

Great job everyone👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

05/05/2023

Great night supporting the 610 Sqdrn bar at the fabulous Woodcote Hotel in Hooton.

Congratulations to all who attended from CH 21 and put in so much effort to make the event a sucess !

Also congratulations to all CH 21 members who took part in the quiz!

How on earth we came 2nd I will never quite figure out!! but the prize mony and the Guinness was a great boost to the night and for the group!

A massive thanks to the Woodcote Hotel for being such fantastic, generous and supportive hosts along with their crew Amy Caroline Chip, Tina and the whole gang.

The Woodcote has to be by far the best local venue by far, with great staff, always smiling and warm and with a superb menu to offer

Thank you all for once again making us so very welcome and being so generous and supportive.

Looking firward to 6th October !!

30/04/2023

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERSAND NON MEMBERS

Please note, that with immediate effect, the CH 21 Home Guard HQ office, located in annexe 1 of hangar 17 Hooton Park, will be open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 - 16:00.

Under normal circumstances, HQ will be manned during the above hours, but PLEASE check in advance to make sure and to make an appoinment should any member wish to discuss group or member business.

To secure an appointment please send a PM.

We are currently recruting new members and anybody who would like to get more involved in the group's activities are cordially invited to call in and have a chat over a cuppa.

I look forward to meeting all our members and potential new recruits in the comming months.

John

25/04/2023

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS

Please note, that with immediate effect, the CH 21 Home Guard HQ office, located in annexe 1 of hangar 17 Hooton Park, will be open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 - 16:00.

Under normal circumstances, HQ will be manned during the above hours, but PLEASE check in advance to make sure and to make an appoinment should any member wish to discuss group or member business.

To secure an appointment please send a PM.

We are currently recruting new members and anybody who would like to get more involved in the group's activitied are cordially invited to call in and have a chat over a cuppa.

I look forward to meeting all our members in the comming months.

John

19/02/2023

EVENT
We are looking for any interested stall holders to join us at a Heritage Festival to be held on Sunday 4th June here in Wirral
The event is a community event hosted by CH 21 Home Guard in partnership with Derwent Lodge and will take place on the esplanade overlooking the river.
Guest will include the 30 pce Wirral Youth orchestra, and our friends Derek and Linda who many of you will know as Winston & Clementine Churchill and many other surprises
Tables are already being booked, so plesse get in touch for further details to avoid dissapointment

13/11/2022

A great visit yesterday to support one of our CH 21 members Gerry Bateman

Gerry is immersed in the history of St Patrick's church in Toxteth Liverpool and yesterday saw a special open day with talks by the University of Liverpool, a tour of the newly opened and researched 19th century crypt where archiological digs are on going and a privilidged peep into the hidden and secret places in the church.

A great opportunity to chat with the university representitives, members of the church and the author of a fine book on the history of the church and it's environs.

With the support of CH 21 Gerry put on a beautiful and meaningful display near the altar in commemoration of the fallen of 2 world wars.

A great afternoon with great scouse hospitality.

Thanks Atie for coming along with me to represent CH 21😇😇 and respect to Gerry who does so much for the cause of constant remembrance, his constant work on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and for his local church and community, of whom he is clearly a central pillar.

Great work mate, and proud to have you with us

27/06/2022

Terrific day for CH 21 as they supported the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum open day ( open days 10:00 - 16:00 last Sunday of each month )

21/06/2022

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR HOME GUARD FUND RAISER HANGAR DANCE ON FRIDAY 19TH AUGUST AT THE HOOTON PARK AIRFIELD.

MESSAGE ME FOR TICKETS AND HAVE A GREAT AND MEMORABLE NIGHT OF FUN AND NOSTALGIA WITH LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, AND ALCOHOLIC AND NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERIDGES.

THOSE WHO ARRIVE IN PERIOD ATTIRE WILL BE ESPECIALLY WELCOME.

FOR PAYMENT OPTIONS PLEASE PM ME. TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE. BOOK EARLY AS NUMBERS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED

30/05/2022

ADVANCE NOTICE OF EVENT

CH 21 HOME GUARD HOSTED HANGAR DANCE

Great news Home Guard members.

Our next event will be our WW II Hangar Dance to take place in the wartime restored Hangar at RAF Hooton Park.

19:00 - 23:00 Friday 19th August

Tickets at £15.00 per head.

Enjoy the period feel with 1940's DJ, and the wonderful Forces Sweetheart, the one and only Lilli Moore singing all your favourites.

Choice of Hot Food or plated cold food @ £5.00 per head.

Alcoholic and non alcoholic Beveridges and Teas and coffee available

Come and experience a true 1940's evening of music and dance in Wirral's only authentic WW I & 2 grade 2 star listed RAF Hangar with original NAAFI style refreshment room and a backdrop of original vintage aircraft.

Put on your dancing shoes and your best vintage bib and tucker, and step back in time with music and dance in this special event

PLEASE CONTACT CH 21 HOME GUARD WW II LIVING HISTORY GROUP FOR FURTHER DETALS

10/05/2022

09/04/2022

The end is in sight.

It's been over two years since a small dissapointed planning group sat in Ruben's Cafe Bromborough Village crying into our coffee because 9 months planning for VE 75 here in Eastham was abandoned due to Covid

It's hard to beleive where that failure has brought us, and for me personally how it has changed my life.

In creating my first presentation to HPT after being invited to participate in the Hooton Park project, I could never have forseen what direction the subsequent journey would take.

Yesterday, the reality really hit home, as once again I saw the dedication, trust and support of CH 21 members making our dream a reality.

This last week CH 21 showed up in force.

In no particular order:

Bill (Peers John William)
Atie Van Doesburg
Tony Piggot
Dave Plumb
Ian Starnes
Jonathan Starnes
Shannon Bewley
Rob Slade
Rob Moss
John Morris
MIke Davey

This group was the major presence on site the entire week and got to grips Hands on ~ Digging, Moving Earth, Painting, Constructing, Gardening, and Building, Fetching and carrying.

Beleive it or not, after months of long struggle the end is in site and our future within grasp.

The next weeks are going to be frenzied and critical, and CH 21 are going to need you ALL as the final touches are made prior to the Museum and Living Hisory Launch day on May 14th fast approaches.

The atmosphere is electric, and the expectations at a 30 year high at Hooton Park as CH 21 takes its rightfully earned place at the top table with its partners in what for many of us, is a lifelong dream.

The 14th of May is our day. Its the day we have been waiting for, it is the start of our dream, and every member of CH 21 needs to be present as it is your day, created for you.

It is the most important day CH 21 will have.Its our inaugural day when we show the Living History community nation wide what we can do and what a dedicated team can achieve.

My deepest gratitude to all those of you who have supported, encouraged and helped me to make this project a reality.A few more miles and we will arrive.

Thank you !

12/03/2022

Thanks everyone for attending the Wirral History and Heritage Fair.
It was a great day spent with our colleagues TAC,GT and HPT
Fantastic to have some local exposure and engage with other historical groups and societies

25/01/2022

COME AND VISIT EASTHAM AND BROMBOROUGH (CH 21) HOME GUARD AT THE WIRRAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE FAIR

17/12/2021

Hello all CH 21 Home Guard WWII Living History Group followers!

Attached, please find the link for our Group's first official monthly newsletter.

We have been able to produce this thanks to the help of Tony Piggott for whose expertise has been invaluable.

This new venture will be produced monthly.

Anybody wishing to put forward an article, advertisement, or any ideas for the next publication, please get in touch.

Final submissions for January issue will be 15th January.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4kf0jqfu58peml4/Newsletter%201%20Dec%202021%20V3.doc?dl=0

19/11/2021

Taken from our Remembrance Service on Sunday 14th November 2021, Tracey Fisher MBE remembers how WW1 and WW2 had a devastating effect on Eastham Village and ...

12/11/2021

CH 21, (Eastham) Home Guard in association with Lilli Moore and Heswall Hall, had a great night participating in a Royal British Legion Charity concert 11th November 2021.

It proved to be a great night, with our group giving it all they had

Fabulous work by CH 17 what a fabulous series of informative displays, you saved the afternoon !!

Derek (Theold Times) you clearly have missed your vocation as a super model !!, Chris Ryan ( when you weren't hiding from us ) a great job as a new recruit. Atie Van Doesburg As always, reliable, supportive, professional and you really suit that Land Army gear 1 Thank you ! Tim. - One occasion when I was happy not to know where your pause button was. I thought we made a great duo. Alan Pearson, you saved the day with the drill when I thought it was all going to fall apart due to lack of participants and Debbie - not only a phenomenal cook but a great sport and support. Becky Bennett and Lilli Moore, congratulations on all you achieved last night along with all the rest of the team. The pictures tell it all. It was a privilege to work with you