NFS Mobile Canteen

We have just acquired a lovely Eccles Caravan to make into an NFS Mobile Canteen. We have needed a vehicle like this to use as a base at events, to give the WVS women somewhere as a focus, somewhere to hide if it is raining, a mobile watchroom, somewhere to get changed, and of course, somewhere to make a cup of tea.

It is a bit of a project at the moment….

It would be nice to have it ready for June. Watch this space!

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  • Air Raid at Severn Valley Railway July 5, 2017
    We are back from a superb couple of weekends at the Severn Valley Railway, where we ran an air raid n each of the 4 days, each day getting slightly more spectacular than the last. We are very grateful to Mr Matthews for shooting this video. 
  • Air raid at Quorn Station, 3rd, 4th June 1942 (2017) May 28, 2017
    The display will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. A lone German bomber attacks a train parked in the siding at Quorn being unloaded. The train has a box van of explosives being unloaded by railway ...
  • Photos from Papplewick Pumping Station October 29, 2016
    A small group took the K2 and Dennis pump, together with a Beresford Stork pump, and the Mobile Canteen. We informed the public about the dangers of the incendiary bomb, and then demonstrated the power of the pumps, running a fairly substantial hand-held branch with two ground monitors, both with 1  1/8″ nozzles. With thanks to ...
  • Air Raid at Quorn Station, GCR 4th-5th June 2016 – instructions for reenactors May 20, 2016
    The display will be at 1:10pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. The detail of the scenario is here. Please look at the GCR Wartime Weekend website here. We are planning to take the Dodge Mobile Dam as the main vehicle ...
  • Plans for a significant air raid at Quorn GCR, 3rd-5th June 2016 February 5, 2016
    The display will be at 1:10pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. The storyline is this: A number of wagons have been delivered to Quorn Yard the previous day, and are standing on the siding between the signalbox and the ...
  • NFS in training at Papplewick November 3, 2015
    Over the weekend of 10th / 11th October 1945, a small contingent of the NFS went to Papplewick Pumping Station for a small training exercise, and gained some useful experience with pump and hose drill. Whilst there, we found ourselves remembering the dark days of the Battle of Britain 5 years earlier, and celebrating the ...
  • Newark Emergency Services Heritage Show 4-5 July July 1, 2015
    We are down to do a Wartime NFS display at 12:00 and a Cold War AFS display at 15:30 on Saturday, but on Sunday the times are AFS at 10:00 and NFS immediately following at 10:40. We also hope to take part in the vehicle parade (11:10 Sat, 15:00 Sun) and put our TL in ...
  • Photos of the ‘Salute to the Forties’ at Chatham Historic Dockyard 2014 November 3, 2014
    Although a long way, we decided to join our friends the ‘Heroes with Grimy Faces‘ and take the mobile canteen, which was very well received. During the weekend, the Picture Post came and did a photo shoot of the inside of the canteen, and of firemen and women gathered round for refreshments after a shout. Some photos ...
  • Papplewick 2014 photos October 25, 2014
    We took a small crew and the Turntable Ladder, and the K2 and a pump. The TL was demonstrated, but without water, as it was a bit breezy on Saturday. On Sunday, the wind got up and we were not able to do anything with the TL. We also had the mobile canteen, which was ...
  • Papplewick Pumping Station this weekend 17 Oct 14 October 17, 2014
    Just a short note to say that we are taking the K2 with a pump, the Mobile Canteen and the Turntable Ladder. Additionally, we may take the Pump Escape on Sunday if there is any prospect of doing some training with the escape (as Papplewick is one of very few locations where we can get ...

Workshop and Restoration

no images were found

2017

  • 05/07 - Air Raid at Severn Valley Railway
    We are back from a superb couple of weekends at the Severn Valley Railway, where we ran an air raid n each of the 4 days, each day getting slightly more spectacular than the last. We are very grateful to … Continue reading →
  • 28/05 - Air raid at Quorn Station, 3rd, 4th June 1942 (2017)
    The display will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. A lone German bomber attacks a train parked in the siding … Continue reading →

2016

  • 29/10 - Photos from Papplewick Pumping Station
    A small group took the K2 and Dennis pump, together with a Beresford Stork pump, and the Mobile Canteen. We informed the public about the dangers of the incendiary bomb, and then demonstrated the power of the pumps, running a … Continue reading →
  • 20/05 - Air Raid at Quorn Station, GCR 4th-5th June 2016 – instructions for reenactors
    The display will be at 1:10pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. The detail of the scenario is here. Please look at the … Continue reading →
  • 05/02 - Plans for a significant air raid at Quorn GCR, 3rd-5th June 2016
    The display will be at 1:10pm on Saturday and Sunday in Quorn Yard in the space between the Goods Shed and Marquee. Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, LE12 8AG. The storyline is this: A number of wagons have been delivered … Continue reading →

2015

  • 03/11 - NFS in training at Papplewick
    Over the weekend of 10th / 11th October 1945, a small contingent of the NFS went to Papplewick Pumping Station for a small training exercise, and gained some useful experience with pump and hose drill. Whilst there, we found ourselves … Continue reading →
  • 01/07 - Newark Emergency Services Heritage Show 4-5 July
    We are down to do a Wartime NFS display at 12:00 and a Cold War AFS display at 15:30 on Saturday, but on Sunday the times are AFS at 10:00 and NFS immediately following at 10:40. We also hope to … Continue reading →

2014

  • 03/11 - Photos of the ‘Salute to the Forties’ at Chatham Historic Dockyard 2014
    Although a long way, we decided to join our friends the ‘Heroes with Grimy Faces‘ and take the mobile canteen, which was very well received. During the weekend, the Picture Post came and did a photo shoot of the inside … Continue reading →
  • 25/10 - Papplewick 2014 photos
    We took a small crew and the Turntable Ladder, and the K2 and a pump. The TL was demonstrated, but without water, as it was a bit breezy on Saturday. On Sunday, the wind got up and we were not … Continue reading →
  • 17/10 - Papplewick Pumping Station this weekend 17 Oct 14
    Just a short note to say that we are taking the K2 with a pump, the Mobile Canteen and the Turntable Ladder. Additionally, we may take the Pump Escape on Sunday if there is any prospect of doing some training … Continue reading →
  • 14/10 - Photos of Air Raid at Rufford, Sept 2014
    We have just received a report from the ARP wardens as follows: At around 2:20pm we received word from our colleagues in Leicester that a doodlebug had passed overhead, and was approaching us. At 400mph, it would be with us … Continue reading →
  • 26/09 - Rufford Abbey Air Raid timeline
    Important note for all participants: Briefing at 10:30 in the Turning Circle (Saturday) Start at 2:30 (Both Days) Siren is start of scenario. End of siren is cue for start of V1 approach sound. ARPs look to the sky, and … Continue reading →
  • 01/09 - On the Home Front at Rufford Abbey, 27/28 September
    The NFS & AFS Vehicles Group are again staging a major air raid on the old abbey buildings, with sirens, V1 approaching, ARP clearing the street,  a single big explosion, civilians evacuated by ARP, the NFS tackling the fire, WVS assisting … Continue reading →
  • 08/08 - Retford War weekend, 9-10 August
    We are taking the Turntable Ladder, the K2 and a couple of pumps – the Large Dennis, and the Beresford Stork, as well as the Mobile Canteen. On Saturday, we will be doing pumping demonstrations and training, and hope to … Continue reading →
  • 21/07 - Air Raid at Woodhall Spa
    Somehow the Germans got wind of an important visitor to Woodhall Spa over the weekend of 19th and 20th July 1940, and mounted a hit-and-run air raid on the Golf Hotel where the VIP was expected. A lone bomber passed … Continue reading →
  • 17/05 - Pre-season preparations
    Had a productive day today with Michael. Almost completed painting the inside of the Mobile Canteen, and then we went on to testing pumps. We inflated one of the recently acquired 2,500-gallon dams, with the intention of pumping water into it … Continue reading →

2013

  • 02/10 - Status of the equipment – planned winter work
    Vehicles Austin K2 ATV – Runs well, but would benefit from some cosmetics, such as a complete repaint (!), attention to LH front wing, rear trim strip. Austin K4 TL – Runs well, but fuel tank send unit is out … Continue reading →
  • 11/09 - Photos of Rufford Abbey by Catriona Sutcliffe
    Catriona Sutcliffe and Norman Brown took these photos. Thank you both.
  • 02/09 - Rufford Air Raid video
    You can watch the full air raid here (low res) or here (medium res). Ian Beck has posted another video here.
  • 31/08 - Successful Air Raid at Rufford
    We had a successful air raid today. Everything worked out, after sorting a teething problem with the Turntable Ladder in the morning. We involved lots of other re-enactors, and the casualties looked great. More photos coming soon.
  • 21/08 - Air Raid at Rufford Abbey 31 Aug-1 Sept
    It is now less than 2 weeks to go, and we are starting to make plans for the air raid. We are looking for people to take part – we all had such a good time both last year, and … Continue reading →
  • 06/08 - Woodhall Spa – our best event yet!
    Back from an absolutely phenomenal weekend at Woodhall Spa. We did an air raid both days early in the afternoon. On Saturday, the sirens sounded, and the bombers came overhead. Bombs fell on the hotel and the ARP wardens were … Continue reading →
  • 01/08 - Woodhall Spa this weekend 3-4 Aug
    This is going to be our biggest event yet. It will be the first and possibly only event with all three WW2 appliances out. It will be the maiden trip for our new NFS mobile canteen. A major event at … Continue reading →
  • 07/07 - Workshop News – Fordson Repaired
    On the way to Derby Fire Show, the Fordson broke down. A catastrophic loss of power, and mechanical noises from deep within the engine that made me fear the worst. I was seriously looking at a full engine rebuild sooner … Continue reading →
  • 12/05 - Mobile Canteen Rebuild
    The stripdown is now complete, and there is hardly a scrap of original wood left, apart from the inside of the wheel arches. The chassis is painted, and bolted back together. The missing wheel-bolt replaced on the RH brake drum. … Continue reading →
  • 07/04 - Mobile canteen progress
    It seems that my initial assessment that the floor at least was sound, turns out to have been, ahem, wildly optimistic. If you think in terms of rust held together by dry rot and woodworm, you will not be far … Continue reading →
  • 25/03 - NFS Mobile Canteen
    We have just bought a potential NFS Mobile Canteen, and are starting its restoration and conversion. See it’s own page for pictures as the work progresses: NFS Mobile Canteen. Sent the wire wheels away today for a rebuild with new … Continue reading →

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