DARK clouds and showers did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of residents and visitors who rolled back the clock last Saturday to celebrate the nostalgia of the latest 1940s weekend in the towns and villages along the West Somerset Railway line.

Hundreds of re-enactment enthusiasts in military uniforms thronged the streets and local people turned out in force in the kind of dresses and suits their grandparents wore, to create an authentic “Dad’s Army” atmosphere.

“The weather wasn’t quite what we would have liked but it wasn’t a problem and people carried on having fun,” said organiser Robin Wichard, who dreamed up the period extravaganza in 2018.

“Everything went according to plan and we have had some very positive feedback. Once again everyone excelled themselves to make it a truly memorable event.”

This was echoed on social media when dozens went on line to say how much they had enjoyed themselves. Typical comments included “Fantastic weekend”, “Superbly-organised event,” and “One for the memory bank!”

Celebrity look-alikes visiting the venues included Winston Churchill, General Montgomery, Hollywood legends Laurel and Hardy and Corporal Jones and Captain Mainwaring from TV’s Dad’s Army.

Minehead’s highlight of the weekend was the traditional Saturday night dance on the station platform when around 200 residents and visitors high-stepped the night away to the music of the Deane Big Band.

Down the line, a period road gang were digging for victory at Washford station, Stogumber featured an air raid shelter and displays of wartime rations, and visitors to Dunster were taken back to the ‘forties with period photo displays.

Williton’s attractions included the railways at war and a WVS display of “make do and mend” and Stogumber featured the Royal Observer Corps, NAAFI rations and military vehicles.

Watchet’s celebrations, organised by the town’s Home Front group, started on Friday with a cheese supper at the Boat Museum and a tea dance at the Royal British Legion.

On Saturday and Sunday the town was alive with music, vendors and re-enactors with the high street and participating venues decorated in wartime fashion, with businesses windows taped, unexploded bombs and wartime menus.

There was free continuous entertainment on the Esplanade’s three stages including a range of music spanning 1940s swing to big band sounds and country and western.

Among local favourites on parade were Watchet Town Band, West Somerset Brass and Watchet Community Choir.

A spokesperson for the Watchet organisers said: “Despite showers threatening to spoil the fun, the town's spirit echoed that famous wartime attitude: “Keep calm and carry on”.

“Both the entertainers and the entertained certainly did that, with Watchet’s Community Choir even coming up with an impromptu ‘singing the rain’ while getting ready for their Saturday performance!

“Thank you, Watchet, for an unforgettable and phenomenal weekend.”