Redcar Racecourse 1940s Revival Day supports Help for Heroes & the Royal British Legion

On Sunday 22nd July Redcar Racecourse hosted a 1940s Revival Day. This was the ninth year the course has used one of its premier meetings to raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

This year, the focus was on adding value to the day and raising its profile. The popular racecourse used their contacts to hold planning meetings with local history groups as well as the Redcar branch of the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. The aim was to enhance the atmosphere and visitor experience.

The result was an enriched day for all the family, featuring military displays, period costumes, and nostalgic music from an Andrews Sisters tribute act. There was also an on-course standard-bearers’ parade, featuring veterans and young cadets, which was impeccably respected by the crowd.

There was also lots of free children’s entertainment with the Cleveland Cadets’ climbing wall, bouncy castles, superhero boot camp, and face painters.

Members of the armed forces were offered free entry on production of valid ID and publicity included social media, local papers, BBC local radio, and Forces Radio, based at Catterick Garrison.

In honour of the 70th anniversary of the NHS, the day also featured a competition to find an NHS hero to be treated to a VIP day out for four. The winner was a long-serving nurse who runs the bowel disease unit at a local hospital.

Attendance on the day reached over 3,000, with the exit collection raising £508. Exciting plans are being put forward for next year, with the possibility of a live broadcast on the day via Forces Radio and Military Vehicles.

Redcar’s general manager Amy Fair said: “This is one of our premier meetings of the year and, for the past nine years, it has been used to honour members of our armed forces as well as raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

“This year, we wanted to take it to a new level by encouraging racegoers to dress up in period costume, enjoy nostalgic music, and see some fascinating parades and displays.”