THE SOUNDS of swing music and bombs exploding filled Brewhouse Yard as life in the 1940s was recreated yesterday.

The nostalgic 1940s Knees-Up event was held for the ninth May Day running at The Museum of Nottingham Life.

It saw more than 1,000 people from across the country coming to the city – including uniformed veterans, costumed entertainers, families and 1940s enthusiasts dressed in vintage clothes.

Neil and Sandra Pope, from Kimberley, attended the event in their 1935 Austin 12, and both were dressed in vintage outfits.

"I've been to a lot of car shows but this is the first time I've been to a 1940s one," said Neil.

"We've had our picnic in the car," said Sandra.

"Everybody has been really friendly."

As well as many original cars, visitors could also see examples of military vehicles from the Second World War.

And they could also meet real heroes and heroines from the conflict.

Among them was 82-year-old Barbara Danter, from West Bridgford, who was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War.

The memories flowed back for Barbara, who served in the army post office across the road in Castle Boulevard for a while.

"When I put on my green uniform I'm 40 years younger," she said. "When I put my normal things on at home and look in the mirror I think 'that old lady is following me again'."

Entertaining the crowds with authentic dancing were the Festival Swing Dance Society, based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Members Sally and Keith Brown had even brought along some Ministry of Food-style bread pudding worthy of wartime 'celebrity chef' Marguerite Patten.

"It's made to an original recipe with bread, sugar, sultanas, milk, eggs and cinnamon," said Sally, who was dressed in an original 1940s suit jacket, pink silk blouse, and a 'Make Do and Mend' cardigan knitted from an original 1940s pattern designed to use up small scraps of wool.

In fact, many of the nostalgic sights and activities were still very relevant to modern times.

There was a mock-up Victory Garden demonstrating how to grow vegetables, wartime propaganda asking people "Is your journey really necessary?" and the posters of a man sneezing to remind people that "A handkerchief in time saves nine".

The closing ceremony also remembered the fallen men and women from more recent conflicts, as well as the First and Second World Wars.

"It's a fun day but it's also very important to remember the fallen in all the wars since," said Tony Bryan of Long Eaton, from re-enactment group 1940s Pick and Mix.

The event also links in with the Armed Forces Weekend, which will be held at Wollaton Hall in June.

caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk