Dockyards and Dickens

"Rule Britannia! rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves" - this famous Poem by James Thompson dates from the 1700's, and has long been associated with the Royal Navy, and sung famously every year at the last night of the Proms.

Great Britain has had a close link to the sea for many many centuries, and shipbuilding was a very important industry during the heyday of sea supremacy and exploration. One very important dockyard was Chatham, on the River Medway in Kent, established in 1567 by Elizabeth I. The dockyard at its peak employed over 10,000 workers, and over its history built 500 ships, including Lord Nelson's famous HMS Victory.

HMS Cavalier WW2 Navy ship

One of the most striking buildings at the Royal dockyard is the Ropery, this building dates from 1728, is 346m long, and is capable of producing 300m (1000ft) long hemp ropes (still in use today). The quickest way to travel along the length of the building when making rope is by bicycle.

The Ropery

The Ropery

Every September the Royal Dockyard hosts a 1940's weekend, you really feel like you have been transported back in time. The sound of Vera Lynn, Andrew Sisters, and Frank Sinatra fills the air; the smell of fish n'chips tempts you to the food vans and costumed actors really look the part.

Just a short distance south along the Medway river from Chatham Royal Dockyard is the City of Rochester. Rochester has links back to the Celts, the Romans, and Saxons, and in more recent times has strong links with Charles Dickens. Dickens lived just across the river Medway, many of his stories are based in and around Rochester, most famously "Great Expectations".

Rochester Cathedral dating from 1080AD

The city has long needed guarding against an attack due to its proximity to the river Medway and the Kent coast. Rochester castle is a very prominent landmark; dating back to 1087, the stone keep is one of the best preserved in England.

Canyons overlook the Medway

The impressive stone keep

1940's Era Ball (Party like it's 1945)

The 1940's Era Ball is becoming a classic Colorado annual event, and rightly so. The summer ball first sprung to life in 2008, founded by Khyentse James. Per the website:

"The birth of this ball began in the 1940s, when founder Khyentse James’ grandparents met at a Pennsylvania radio station (WCDL Carbondale). Her grandmother was a singer and her grandfather became an announcer upon his return from World War II duty. Years later, their love story inspired Khyentse’s passionate interest in the culture and music of the 1940s that brought her grandparents together. It was when Khyentse was working at the Boulder Airport and earning her pilot’s license that she got the idea to hold an event in the large hangar to celebrate that culture"

Along with the summer ball, there is also a White Christmas themed ball in December; we have now been to 4 balls in total, and they continue to get bigger and better with each year. My wife and I feel like we have a close connection to this time in history, perhaps we were born in the wrong era!. 

Myself and my wife in RAF and WAC Authentic WW2 Uniforms

Paul and Trudee

My grandfather was an Officer in the Royal Artillery, 15 Medium Regiment, and saw action several times. He and his Regiment landed on Juno Beach on July 8th 1944, a month after the D-Day landings. His Regiment pushed onto Caen where they saw very heavy fighting, eventually they headed East along the coast liberating towns as they went, including Dieppe and Boulogne. I also had a great uncle that was captured at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in a concentration camp.

Both my wife and I love the music of the 40's (Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, Dame Vera Lynn....),  although at best our dance skills are bordering on the edge of basic and very basic. I think, breaking out the old 33's and the record player will be in order prior to our next ball!. 

We travel back to England at least twice a year, and inevitably find some kind of 40's event to go to go back there too. England really embraces that era still, and there are events year round, up and down the country. Having a similar event on our doorsteps here in Colorado, is a huge bonus though!.

Airport hanger is turned into a themed cafe

Main stage with the backdrop of the Rockies

Each year the Summer ball gets bigger and better, with more authentic ww2 military vehicles, planes, and re-enactors. It is like a museum wandering around the event field, and gives you a good sense of how it was back in that era.

What is so great about these period type events, whether they be in the USA, UK or elsewhere, is admiring the amazing uniforms and period clothing. You could literally spend all day/evening just people watching.

The entertainment at the 1940's era Ball is top-notch, and usually includes well known local big band The Hot Tomatoes. The Hot Tomatoes perform all the classics from Glenn Miller to Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington. 2015 lineup also included wonderful impersonators, including Carmen Miranda, Bob Hope, Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra.

Carmen Miranda

Charlie Chaplin, Roy Rogers, Jane Russell, Bob Hope

Bob Hope

The evening was topped off with a spectacular sunset and dancing, another great 1940's Ball at the Boulder Airport!.