Dartford returns to the 1940s for bank holiday weekend
Dartford’s Glentworth Ex-Services Social Club is travelling back in time with a themed open day on Monday 30th August from 10.30am to celebrate the August bank holiday.
Glentworth is keen to celebrate its rich history, having been in its current location for 90 years in December of this year. The club is due to relocate once the town centre regeneration is given the final go-ahead and the 1940s themed open day is to raise funds to promote and preserve the 1,500 strong club’s heritage and history. There will be genuine military vehicles on show and Kent Fire and Rescue Service are also sending a fire engine for interested visitors to look around. Staff, members and attendees are encouraged to dress up in the style of the period and for younger visitors, there will be two bouncy castles and a dedicated football pitch. With a BBQ, full kitchen menu, bric-a-brac stall and live music, all tastes will be catered for.
Tom Eastwood, club secretary, says; “As an ex-servicemen’s club, the 1940s is an important era for us. There are a lot of members who served during this time and we want to celebrate their contribution to the services as well as enjoying the bank holiday sunshine that’s due! The club is a central part of Dartford’s rich history and everyone’s welcome to find out more about what we do. This will be a fun fundraiser so that we can carry on looking out for Dartford’s ex-servicemen.”
Gravesend High Street in the Heritage Quarter is also going back in time with a ’1940s Knees-Up’ on Saturday 28th August from 9am until late in the evening Monday 30th August from 10.30am, to last all day. The Gravesend event is organised by Jackie Byrne, proprietor of 1940s themed ‘Billie’s Boutique’, a dress agency located on the high street.
Anne Knight, Director of Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership, says; “We champion the regeneration of the entire Kent Thameside area and that regeneration is not just physical. The area has an incredible heritage and we’re delighted to see that Gravesend and Dartford are celebrating that. I would urge anyone in the area on bank holiday weekend to go to both events and enjoy the opportunity to find out more about a very interesting period in Kent Thameside’s history.”
Notes for Editors
About Kent Thameside:
Business: Home to 6,900 companies, there are 94,800 jobs throughout the region. Crossways Business Park employs 6,500 of these and will employ a further 10,000 within the next five years. Ebbsfleet Valley will replicate Crossways’ success on a larger scale, to complement and partner existing opportunities.
Infrastructure: Fastrack, the award-winning Bus Rapid Transit system, links new and existing homes and businesses. Ebbsfleet International transports passengers to London in 17 minutes via the HighSpeed1 rail link and to the Continent in 70 minutes via Eurostar.
Innovation: Home to Bluewater, Europe’s largest retail and leisure destination; and contemporary housing developments including The Bridge in Dartford and Springhead Park in Northfleet.
Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership (KTRP) is a public private partnership supporting and championing the regeneration of Kent Thameside to make it a distinct and vibrant destination of choice for living and working.
More information:
Tom Eastwood, Club Secretary, Glentworth Ex-Services Social Club
T: 01322 401802
Jackie Byrne, Proprietor, Billie’s Boutique
T: 01474 532255
