Retro days out
Fancy something different from the theme park? Here are a few suggestions for some great retro days out.
Classic car shows
The classic car show is an ideal way to appreciate transport from the past. Historic cars from the early years of the twentieth century to the 1980s are often on display. They are usually joined by steam engines, buses, fire engines and some quirky vehicles made recently, such as a car powered by steam.
You can see how motor transport has evolved through the years. If you are interested in buying a classic or vintage car, classic car shows are a good place to start. A classic car show is also fascinating for children. They can see the the cars that their grandparents bought new. It is a great day out for anyone interested in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Retrowow reports: Churchill Classic Car Show
See also www.classicshowsuk.co.uk which lists classic car shows throughout the country.
70s Exhibition - touring Oxfordshire and Hampshire
The 70s Exhibition started its tour at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. The exhibition is subtitled 'the decade that taste forgot?'. It offers a colourful insight into life in the seventies. There are room settings for a suburban kitchen, a living room and a teenage girl's bedroom. There is also a display of seventies' fashions, including some painful looking platform soles.
If you remember the Wombles, the Osmonds, Aqua Manda and the days when it was status symbol to have a colour TV, then this exhibition is for you. This exhibition is also very good for introducing the seventies to those who do not remember. There is even a chance for children to dress up in seventies' clothes.
The exhibition is touring the counties of Oxfordshire and Hampshire. Forthcoming dates and venues are:
- Westbury Manor Museum - 24 January to 27 February 2009
- Abingdon Museum - 7 March - 10 May 2009
- Museum of Oxford - 16 May to 12 July 2009
- Banbury Museum - 18 July to mid Oct 2009
- Gosport Discovery Centre - 7 Nov to Christmas 2009
Transport museums
As well as seeing cars at classic car shows, another way to appreciate classic cars is to go to a museum. There are a number of fantastic transport museums featuring cars, buses and boats throughout the country.
See Transport museums.
Spalding Tulip Parade
The Spalding Tulip parade is a tradition which began nearly 50 years ago in 1959. The Spalding Tulip Parade was originally started as a way of making use of the tulip flowers from plants grown to harvest the bulbs. As an annual event, it attracts visitors from all over the country. In the 60s, it was a popular event with people from the Midlands and further a field, as well as from the Spalding area.
Spalding Tulip Parade is usually held on the first Saturday in May (and the festivities continue over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend).
Spalding Flower Festival 2009
What is happing in 2009? There has been a great deal of controversy over the 2009 Spalding Flower Festival and Tulip Parade. The organisers of the Flower Festival told us:
The organisers of the 50th Flower Parade are organising a three day Flower Festival based at Springfields Arena and Events Centre. This will include RHS Gold Medal exhibitors, church flower festivals, flower festivals, children's competitions and entertainment, free circus, marching bands, music and entertainment, garden trade stands and 20 acres of Springfields Festival Gardens. Lincolnshire County Council will be organising a scaled-down version of the parade, route yet to be decided.
We will try to find out more about the Parade and post it on this page when we do.
Tour the New Forest on a classic motorbike
Whilst on a visit to the New Forest area, we came across two classic motorbikes – a 1960 500cc Triumph Speed Twin and a 1956 650cc BSA Goldflash. It transpired that these bikes had been hired for the day from Bugad Classic Bike Hire, situated near Ringwood (www.bugad.com/bikes.html).
Bugad have ten motorbikes available for hire varying from a 1941 750cc Harley Davidson WL45 to a 2001 800cc Triumph Bonneville. They also have a small range of motorcycle helmets and jackets for hire, if you are not able to supply your own.
What could be more retro way of spending a day than touring the New Forest enjoying the wonderful scenery?