BOTH the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway and Winchcombe town are preparing to turn the clock back 75 years to the 1940s and ‘Wartime in the Cotswolds’ with a packed programme of entertainment and events.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the steam railway and Winchcombe this weekend, April 23 and 24, and are encouraged to pack up their old kit bag and visit in period costume as they enjoy a weekend of nostalgia and fun.

A packed programme of events is planned and railway volunteers will be out in force turning the stations from Cheltenham to Toddington into a vision of yesteryear.

During the weekend, King George VI will be visiting both the railway and the town, escorted by Field Marshall Montgomery.

They'll travel by train and from Winchcombe station in period vehicles to the town, where on both days the King will be making a speech to rouse locals to put their energy behind the war effort.

Ian Crowder, spokesman for the railway, said: “A packed two days will enable you to soak up the wartime atmosphere in this lighthearted effort to cock a snook at the enemy and get a taste of what life was like for your parents and grandparents during the wartime years.

“You would have been encouraged to 'do your bit' for the war effort and, if you weren’t called up, you could of course join the Home Guard.

“Britain was at war but it was also a time when the country was buoyed up with camaraderie, music and everyone looking out for each other."

Visitors will be encouraged to don 1940s civvy or military (not German) garb and there will be plenty of cameos performed by re-enactors from all over the country at all of the stations as well as on trains. There's a packed programme of musical entertainment – including 'George Formby'.

“You might even find yourself caught up in a 1940s wedding or, on Sunday, a special Remembrance Service,” Mr Crowder added.

Attractions a include the acclaimed RAF Plotting Room demonstration, 1940s beauty salon, lots of military and period vehicles; an air raid shelter experience, 'digging for Victory' and of course the Home Guard will be in force.

Winchcombe shops will be filled with wartime themes and in Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe's Happenstance Border Morris the King will be joined by the Queen and rouse townsfolk to put their all into the war effort.

Gay Fryer of the Sue Ryder shop who has been co-ordinating the town's effort, says: “I'm so thrilled that the town has entered into the spirit of the occasion.

“Shops are putting on themed displays and staff will be wearing period clothing – and many will have their windows taped and sandbagged just in case there is an air raid. And in the Winds of Change gallery you'll find local people knitting for the war effort.

“On Saturday there will be musical entertainment outside the Tourist Information Centre, with plenty of encouragement to join in the singing."

Full information about the weekend can be found at www.gwsr.com including train times and details of events and attractions at Cheltenham Racecourse, Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington stations.