THE clock will be turned back more than 60 years this weekend when Exbury Gardens, in the New Forest, hosts a two-day festival of nostalgia, celebrating memories of that extraordinary era.

Up to 130 vehicles of the period, from jeeps to a giant four-ton Diamond T wrecker, will be on view, while visitors can take rides on a 1929 Dennis "toast rack" charabanc during the We'll Meet Again event.

Veterans from the time Exbury became the Royal Navy shore base, HMS Mastodon, that played a vital role in planning for the D-Day landings, will be talking to visitors.

Members of the well-known banking family, the de Rothschilds, were given only 48 hours to leave Exbury House before it was taken over by the Royal Navy. As a shore base the estate was used to administer the victualling, arming and training of the crews of the many types of landing craft that were used in the 1944 landings at Normandy.

"Exbury has a wonderful wartime record and it played a bit part in the events that shaped the war," said Exbury's owner, 90-year-old Edmund de Rothschild, who fought in France, North Africa and Montecassino.

"We must not forget the sacrifices made by so many and we must also remember the very special atmosphere of that time.

"This weekend will remind us of all that and will show the younger generation a lot of the events experienced by their grandparents."

The author Neville Shute was one of the many service personnel who passed through during the war; he wrote about his experiences in his novel Requiem For A Wren.

In it one of his fictional heroines shoots down a German bomber. Even today, mystery surrounds the true circumstances of the flight of the Junkers Ju 188 E-1 that was shot down over Exbury on the morning of April 17, 1944, crashing on the park in front of Exbury House. Its crew of seven did not survive.

What is known is that it flew over preparations for the D-day invasion and, had it escaped these would have been reported directly to Hitler.

From this the German Intelligence services would, almost certainly, have deduced that Operation Fortitude', the phoney plan created by the Allies to persuade the Nazis that the invasion of France would be via the Pas de Calais, was in fact a deception.

The history of Europe might well have been different had this plane not been brought down when it was.

Tomorrow evening people are invited to picnic in the grounds while being entertained by The Apollo Big Band and their singers Pauline Richings and Anthony Ferraro.

On Sunday morning a special service of commemoration will be held in front of Exbury House, while the white ensign is proudly flown nearby.

l We'll Meet Again is being staged at Exbury Gardens tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm. Tickets for the big band concert are £13.50 adults and £7.50 children. For more information call 023 8089 8625.