A FLYING visit by the world-famous Red Arrows display team and a Battle of Britain Memorial flight will wow Barry Island visitors, this weekend.

The Barry Wartime Weekend event, aimed at all ages, will feature a programme of free war-related events on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31.

The Barry at War group and Barry Tourist Railway organised event will commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.

This year’s event features a Great War living history encampment and other wartime themed displays, as well as a display of classic cars and motorbikes with an opportunity to learn some first aid.

Event co-organiser Ade Pitman said: “This year’s Barry Wartime Weekend looks set to firmly establish Barry on the heritage tourism circuit, and provide an opportunity to showcase the new development on Barry Island promenade to visitors who would not normally have come to the town.

“For many, the highlight of the event will be the display by the Red Arrows, in front of Barry Island.”

The display is scheduled to take place at 12.30pm on Saturday, with the centre point of the display being Wartime Weekend and Barry`s wartime museum sponsor, John`s Café.

The second flying display will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday when a C47 Dakota will display along Barry Island, and over the Hood Road site.

The Dakota was the main aircraft used to drop paratroopers during the D-Day and Market Garden airborne operations during the Second World War.

All of the displays and entertainment will be at Hood Road field, opposite Barry Premier Inn so as to make room for a craft fair at Barry Island Railway Station.

The two sites will be linked by a continuous vintage train service.

The Glamorgan Classic Car Club will showing off lovingly restored classic vehicles, and the Military Vehicle Trust will be display wartime themed classic vehicles.

Petrolheads will also enjoy seeing the many gleaming motorcycles on display, brought along by the Royal British Legion Motorcycle Group.

There will be trade stands at the Hood Road site with more craft stalls, model aircraft displays, stands from Forces support organisations, and a fair for the children.

Barry’s Air Training Corps Squadron will demonstrate some of the things that cadets have the opportunity to do, including a Duke of Edinburgh expedition.

Visitors can learn some First Aid from the Squadron’s award winning First Aid team, and even gain a Heart Start certificate.

Visitors will also be able to meet the Territorial Army, learn what life was like for the troops during both World Wars, and keep a look out for escaped German Prisoners of War, attempting to escape from Island Farm PoW Camp at Bridgend.

Period music is being performed live by former Barry Island Redcoat, Sandy Sparkle, American Jazz singer and Trumpeter Ricky Hunter, and ‘George Formby’ performed by Arthur Cook of ‘Blitz & Pieces’.

Prime Minister, Winston Churchill is set to put in an appearance.

The event has been sponsored by the Vale and Barry Town Councils, Newydd housing association, John’s Café, Cambrian Transport, and Spectrum Displays.

A park and ride will operate from the Hood Road field to Barry Island throughout the weekend, at £5 for a vehicle of four people, and £10 for vehicles of more than four people.

The event opens to the public from 10 am until 5pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4 pm on Sunday.

For more information, visit www.wartimeweekend.co.uk or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BarryAtWarHistoryGroup