Mini Mainwarings

Our limited edition Mini Mainwarings are looking just fabulous! These very special little men are all cast individually by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn from his original maquette in cold cast resin. Numbers are limited to 80, one for each episode made - which one is your favourite? Each statue comes in it's own stunning box, held safely within museum grade foam. To secure your statue (and maybe your favourite  episode?) please contact Corinne Fulford on info@dadsarmythetford.org.uk or 07802 701911. You will need to place a deposit of £75 - total price is £450. You can pay in full or by instalments - whatever suits you best.

Philip Madoc

We were all saddened to hear the new that Philip Madoc passed away today (March 5th).To read the story of this great actor please follow this link to the BBC news story.

The museum was delighted that Philip was able to attend the unveiling of the Captain Mainwaring statue on June 19th 2010.The picture below was taken the day after as members of the cast were getting reading to travel to Bressingham for Croft & Perry Day.Our thoughts are with his family & friends.We will all remember with great laughter his role as the U boat captain in the classic episode,The Deadly Attachment.

Service of Celebration for the Life of David Croft OBE

There will be a Service of Celebration for the Life of David Croft OBE that will be held at 11.30am on Thursday 15th March 2012 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ. All are welcome BUT admission will be by ticket only.Please contact the museum for further details.

Saturday Kitchen

Hope you didn't forget to tune into Saturday Kitchen last Saturday (Jan 28th) on BBC1.The wine recommendation bit was filmed on location in Thetford by Cactus Television. It featured the statue of Captain Mainwaring and a shot of the museum sign.If you did miss it you might find in on the iPlayer.

Andy, Suzie, Claire, 'The Captain' and Mike.

Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Calling all our re-enactor/vintage/theatre friends – We have been approached by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama based in Moorgate, London. They are producing a production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which is going to be performed at the Barbican Centre’s Main Theatre which is a great opportunity for those involved and indeed Guildhall. The design for the production is based around the 1940’s with some of the action set in a 1940’s hospital. For this production we are in need of some props that you might be able to help us with, these are as follows :
16 X Identical Chairs – Church/Village Hall/ Chapel Chairs
4 x Sunglasses – 2 x Male, 2 X Female
Surgical Instruments
Surgical Trolley
Surgical Folding Screen
Surgical Drip
Hypodermic Needles – Possibly Glass or Metal, large.
Hospital Washbasin – With wheels.
Air Raid Patrol Lamp
Military Milk Float – They need an electric vehicle that is able to take singers on the back of the float/truck and be driven onstage. Ideally this should resemble a 1940’s Bedford Flatbed truck but due to stage weight restrictions it has to be under 3.5tonnes hence the idea of a Military looking Milk Float.
The dates they would need to borrow the items from would be : Friday 10th February to Wednesday 7th March.
If you can help, please get in touch.Call our museum manager,Corinne Fulford,on 07802 701911.

You can email us at dadsarmythetford@googlemail.com or you can complete the contact form at http://www.dadsarmythetford.org.uk/contact.htm

News pages

The museum is now starting it’s 5th year and it is quite amazing just what we have got up to.This page will show you all our recent activity.If you go to our archive new page you can see what we have been up to since 2007.

On the box,Tuesday December 27th

BBC Tribute to David Croft OBE

Click the link for more information.

One fans tribute to David Croft OBE

Merchandise still on sale

Although the Museum is now closed for the Winter break, all our merchandise is available on line. Our web shop is currently showing a very small part of our range so if you have seen something when you visited please contact us, we will be happy to help you.

Winter break

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Walking location tours 2012

Details of the 2012 walking tours of the Thetford locations have just been published on the book a tour page.

Why not buy a walking tour gift voucher as a Christmas present,details on this page also.

Fireworks 2011

The museum was once again able to join our friends from the Charles Burrell Museum and attend the 2011 fireworks event on November 6th.Our friends from the Charles Burrell Museum came along with their wonderful steam engine,The Queen Mary.Our photographs show our Captain Mainwaring (Mick Whitman) and Pike (Saxon) meeting some unusual friends.Not to be out down our museum manager (Corinne) showed off some new designer head gear.

Book signing

Shaun Sewell and Ronnie Scott were at the museum on November 5th signing copies of their book `The Real Dad’s Army`.A large number of people came to visit and have their books signed including cricket journalist,Henry Blofield who was giving a lecture next door.

On the road in September

The museum took to the road twice in September.On September 17th our Captain Mainwaring (Mick Whitman) and Pike (Saxon) were invited along to open Drinkstone Village Fete.The Captain was driven into the main arena in a lovely Rolls Royce (Captain’s car ?).

On September 17th and 18th the museum was invited along to the Poppy Line to take part in there wonderful 1940’s event.

Winter break

The museum will close for it’s winter break on Saturday December 3rd at 2pm.We will reopen in April 2012.

If you are planning to come to our last opening you could combine your visit to the museum to a visit to the Xmas Fair and Fun Day being held by the Thetford Players drama group.The event will take place in the Carnegie Rooms,next door to the museum from 10am until 3pm.

Book signing

We are pleased to announce a book signing of 'The Real Dad’s Army,the war diaries of Lt.Col. Rodney Foster ' at the museum on Saturday November 5th from 10am until 2pm.

Come along and meet Shaun Sewell and Ronnie Scott for a chat and the chance to purchase a signed copy of the book.

Book of condolence.

The museum team has placed a book of condolence in the museum for anyone who would like to express their thoughts about David Croft OBE.If you cannot get to the museum please send your comments to us and we will put them in the book for you.Please email us or use the comments form on the contact link.

David Croft R.I.P.

We are very, very sad that David Croft is no longer with us. A lovely man, who we were honoured to know and count as one of our friends. We are all in shock at the news as we know you will be too - our thoughts are with David's family and friends.

David Croft chatting to Bill Pertwee at the statue unveiling on June 19th 2010.

Gressenhall–Village at War

Once again the museum attended to wonderful Village at War event at Gressenhall over the August Bank Holiday.A great time was had by all and we met many old friends and made lots of new ones.The weekend finished with a fly past by the Battle of Britain flight.

Heritage Day

The Dad’s Army Museum were pleased to join with the Charles Burrell Museum and the Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life and take part in the National Heritage Weekend.We were delighted to welcome 250 visitors who witnessed the arrival of the Captain’s new fire fighting equipment and some wartime style singing.

Heritage Day 2011

Thetford Festival 2011

The museum was pleased to open on Tuesday August 30th as part of the 2011 Thetford Festival.During the day we took visitors to the museum on mini location tours,showing them some of the Thetford town centre locations used during filming.We were pleased to welcome some special visitors in uniform and some vehicles.Over the day we had just over 200 visitors.

Coming soon !

We will be posting pictures from Thetford Festival,Heritage Day and The village at War at Gresenhall on this site very soon.We will also post some new video.Check back here soon.

Hi-de-Hi!
 
Jo and Tony Tarran have announced Back To Maplin's 2011, a Hi-de-Hi! themed event following on from their highly acclaimed events in 2007 and 2009.      Once again the focal point will be the Cliff Hotel in Dovercourt where the series was filmed and will take place over the weekend of Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th October.  Tickets for the weekend activities will cost £ 34.50 each.
Saturday will start with a Vintage Bus Tour of locations in the morning followed by an afternoon with cream tea refreshments at the Electric Palace Cinema - seen in the show in the series 8 episode "Only The Brave" - watching Hi-de-Hi! on the big screen plus some rare clips!
Sunday sees a two course carvery lunch in the ‘Hawaiian Ballroom’ at the Cliff Hotel with entertainment, Maplins fun and a host of special guests joining us.
Previous guests have included David Croft, Jimmy Perry, Jeffrey Holland, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Paul Shane, Barry Howard and many others.
Payment can be made by CHEQUE ONLY to "A. Tarran" and sent to:
Hi-de-Hi Event, 32 Beach Road, Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex,       C012 3RP

Visitors from Saham Toney

Earlier in the year the museum team went off to Saham Toney WI to show our museum presentation.They must have enjoyed it as they decided to come along and have a look at our museum on August 10th.The museum is willing  to open for private visits and able to go ‘on the road’ to give presentations.Please contact the museum for further information.

Heritage Saturday,September 10th 2011

The Dad’s Army Museum will be open on Saturday September 10th from 10am until 4pm as part of the Heritage Open Days,our friends at the Charles Burrell Museum will also be open.Why not come along to Thetford and visit the two museums and while you are here pop along to the Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life.

Visitors from Reading

We have had visitors to the Thetford locations trail from all over the UK,this group came on August 8th from Reading,Berkshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next ‘public’ locations tours are on September 18th and October 16th.More information at http://www.dadsarmythetford.org.uk/tour.htm

Location Mini Tours

As part of the 2011 Thetford Festival we have organised some location mini tours on Tuesday August 30th.Just turn up at the museum anytime from 10am until 2pm and our tour guides will take you on a short walk around some of the Thetford town centre locations used during the filming of the TV series.There is no charge for these tours but we are asking for a £2 donation for museum funds.For further information please email us at dadsarmythetford@googlemail.com ,telephone 01842 751975 or call in at the Tourist Information Office at Leaping Hare,Belmont House,20 King Street,Thetford,IP24 2AP.You can get further information on the 2011 Thetford Festival from here as well.

Download a copy of the 2011 Festival Brochure from here