5 family tickets to Beaulieu’s Trucks & Troops

Beaulieu is offering Echo readers the chance to win one of 5 family tickets to Trucks & Troops in this fantastic competition. From the 23rd – 25th May, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is playing host to Trucks & Troops - staged by the South Hampshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust the show is a celebration of the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages.

Stephen Munn, the National Motor Museum’s Commercial Director said:” We are both pleased and proud to be the staging show for the National Military Vehicle Trust’s D-Day Tour. We are confident that this year will be bigger and better than last year, and hopefully the weather will be better than 65 years ago!”

Andy Jones, one of the co-organisers of the show said, ”We always receive a warm welcome at the National Motor Museum and the showground is such a draw for our members. This year, being the 65th anniversary of D-Day, I’m sure we will have even more vehicles arriving from further afield, and I can assure the owners that they will not be disappointed in the attractions.”

Over 250 military vehicles will be on display, everything from push-bikes to armoured and tracked vehicles, ranging from pre WWll to the Gulf War. These include a multitude of types such as Jeeps, Dodges, Bedfords, GMCs, Austin Champs and, of course, Land Rovers. Re-enactment groups, including the Vietnam war group, Rolling Thunder, will be wearing uniforms and equipment corresponding to the vehicles on display. They will be talking to visitors about life as a soldier and re-creating camps and situations in which they would have lived and served.

Joining the show this year, courtesy of Friends of Bovington Tank Museum, is the only WWll Valentine MkllXD DD tank still in existence. The tank has a floatation skirt device, together with two propellers that enabled the tank to be launched out at sea and manoeuvre to the landing beach under its own power. Upon beaching, the skirt would be collapsed and the ‘seaborne’ tank once again became a fighting tank. Owned and driven by John Pearson, the tank has taken many years of research and restoration and will be seen running at the show.

On the Beaulieu Arena, visitors can watch a range of shows including parades of vehicles, displays from Rolling Thunder and bands providing musical entertainment. Take time to walk around the militaria stalls with a variety of goods for sale from a gas mask to a Jeep!

On Sunday 24th and Monday 25th, at approximately 1.30pm, watch a Hurricane flying display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Activities for younger visitors include a Commando Assault Course, a Model Boat Pond and Model Tank Village. There will also be an opportunity to dress up in real Army uniform, including camo face paint and radio head-sets, and take part in a Section patrol.

Visitors to the show can also see all the other Beaulieu attractions including the National Motor Museum’s latest exhibition ‘Jaguar Jamboree’, Palace House and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey. Not to be missed is the Secret Army Exhibition which tells the story of wartime Beaulieu and the training of secret agents to work with the Resistance in occupied Europe.

The show is open from 10am each day with plenty of free parking. For more information telephone 01590 612345, or visit: www.beaulieuevents.co.uk How to enter For your chance to win, simply answer the following question and complete your details below. Closing date for entries is Monday 18 May at 11pm. Competition limited to one entry per household. A family ticket covers one adult and up to four children / youths or two adults and up to three children / youths. Normal Echo rules apply, for a complete set of rules visit Competitions rules

QUESTION: How many military vehicles will be on display at Beaulieu’s Trucks & Troops exhibition?

See the Southern Daily Echo on Saturday 9 May for your chance to win tickets to see Brum at Beaulieu!