A LANDMARK Evesham event which takes people back in time to life during the war is facing a huge repair bill after one of the huts at Ashdown Camp was damaged in a shameless act of vandalism.
Volunteers who organise the Wartime in the Vale event each year have been left devastated and angry after vandals broke into one of the huts and caused extensive damage.
Heartless vandals ripped apart walls, light fittings, smashed up the pot-belly stove in the wooden hut on the camp and even knocked out central structural posts which support the roof and hold the walls.
The locks were damaged during the attack up and Amy Jelfs, organiser of the popular celebration, said she and site owner Emma James had been left outraged by the raid at the camp on Ashdown Farm near Badsey.
“We are heartbroken after all the hard work, dedication and passion Bob James, who is no longer with us, went to with creating Second World War camp and helping other re-enacting groups have a place to recreate the love of this period of our history,” she said.
“Unfortunately the hut will not be included in the school tours or on view to the public until we can make it safe.
“We are just thankful children have not been playing down at the camp as we don’t want to think what could have happened if the hut had collapsed.”
The Wartime in the Vale event regularly attracts thousands of visitors to Evesham every year who are transported back to the 1940s with a host of Second World War vehicles, memorabilia and displays.
But plans to build new toilets have now been postponed to allow funds to be used to restore the building while plans to open the site for people living with dementia and the carers to take them back in time and spark old memories has been frozen because of the vandalism.
“It’s such a sad world we have to share with these twisted individuals. I hope they are really proud of themselves,” Ms Jelfs said.
The not-for-profit organisation has appealed to local residents to help raise cash to help fund the repairs via a Go Fund Me page
Visit www.gofundme.com/ashdown-wwii-camp-repairs-building-vandalised to make a donation.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
