Up to 70 WW2 vehicles to form convoy through Dorchester
Organisers say it could be the last time we see this many WW2 vehicles travelling along Dorset's roads
Armed Forces Weekend (18th - 19th June) will see around 70 WW2 vehicles including tanks drive through Dorchester to mark the occasion.
It's thought it could be the last time a convoy this many genuine WW2 tanks and vehicles could travel through the town.
Organisers are urging us all to help make a day of it by dressing up in period costume.
The tanks will travel in convoy up High East Street on Saturday 18 June at around 3pm, then turn down Church Street before parking up at Brewery Square for 1.5 - 2hrs to allow the public to have a really good look and take photos!! They should be there at around 4pm.
Phil Gordon from Dorchester BID is one of the organisers. He said:
"It's going to be a probably not to be repeated spectacle. If you were wondering how much it costs to own and run a Sherman tank, well you'd need about half a million pounds to buy one, and running is also pretty major. £28,000 pounds for a set of tracks with rubber so they don't tear up the roads and two miles to the gallon on fuel.
"It's going to cost these guys thousands of pounds for the weekend just to be able to afford to show the public that they may not see again in their life time.
"Dorchester respects its local history, its heritage, and the build up to D-Day was a massive part of our local history in the last 100 years. I think it's really important that the generations to come are reminded this is not a celebration, it's a commemoration, and we need to make sure things like that never happen again.
"It's very important that we take our hats off and appreciate the efforts of our forefathers and foremothers."
Tanks will also be making visits at a couple of local schools in the lead up to the event on Saturday.
Dorchester BID is advising anyone travelling to the event to get to town early before the tanks arrive at around 3pm to avoid traffic.