The Heatons Bridge Military Vehicle Group will be holding another open weekend with military vehicles and displays at the Heatons Bridge Inn, Burscough, on 1st/2nd April 2017. The event is FREE and the public are more than welcome to come along - there are no admission or other charges involved, and there will be a range of military vehicles on show of all eras from WW2 onwards. Anyone with a military vehicle of their own would also be more than welcome to join us to camp over for the weekend. They just need to contact myself, Paul Connolly (tel 01704 545786, email pconnolly09@btinternet.com) or Angela Brown our group Secretary (tel 01942 514738, email pegasus-drive@sky.com) for details.

The Military gatherings at Heatons Bridge Inn Burscough have now become half yearly events (courtesy of proprietors Steve and Jacqui Winrow) and this is the first event for 2017 (a ‘crank-up’).
The Heatons Bridge Inn has a great range of real ales and food all given names to reflect the military theme. The vehicles which attend include Willys, Ford, Hotchkiss and Austin Champ Jeeps, Landrovers, ‘Whistling Rio’ and Bedford RL 4 ton trucks, a Saracen armoured personnel carrier, military motorbikes, and military staff cars. Kevin Reilly will be bringing some of his range of ‘big guns’ which includes a mighty Howitzer, an Abbot self propelled gun, and the Mighty Antar tank transporter. We never know exactly what he will bring along so there’s always a surprise waiting! Members’ displays include a range of militaria including various firearms, bayonets and other weapons, uniforms, radio equipment and field equipment. A regular part of the display is also a 25 pounder field gun rig belonging to Frank and Angela Brown (our Secretary) comprising a Morris Quad tractor unit, which tows an ammunition limber behind, and the field gun itself behind that! Frank and Angela provide demonstrations of the team operation of the field gun and have been known to take the entire 3 part rig across the off-road hill course at Burscough airfield. Quite something!! The rig is featured on this year’s event ‘flyer’ for the crank-up.
The Inn itself is located on the canal at Heatons Bridge and the grounds still retain the World War 2 freestanding brick pillbox which formed part of the home-guard defence provisions. We hope to set up a small home guard display inside the pillbox again to give some feel for how a guard might have had to ‘hole up’ there.
Why not come along and share the atmosphere of a Military Display for free with the enthusiasts who would be pleased to answer any questions you may have?