About Forces 80
Forces 80 History Group is made
up of like minded individuals from both civilian and military
backgrounds who come together at events throughout the
United Kingdom. They represent the British Armed Forces from 1978 to
1989 during the height of the Cold War.
At the various events they attend, the group displays uniforms,
equipment and weapons of the period and give talks on these to
members of the public.
The group has a hands on
history policy and is happy to allow the public to touch, feel
and hold different items on display. Forces 80 can tailor its display
suit an events organisers' specific requirements and the group has come to specialise in the
1982 Falklands Conflict.
They have carried out displays
for veteran charities, the MOD, various museums and have also been approached by media
companies, where they have taken part in documentaries
and a short film in providing extras, uniforms and weapons.
Members
at the Stafford Regimental Museum 2008.
Creation
"Whilst at The War and Peace Show (Beltring) in 2004 we
noticed that the living history groups mainly dealt with the
British Army during World War Two or from the 1st Gulf War
onwards. As I had some British Infantry equipment for the early
80s, I donned my uniform and walked
around the living history field where it
was well received and repeatedly was complimented upon my appearance. Several
ex-service men stopped and talked to me and gave me advice
and information on how to make my representation more visually
correct, especially Kenny who was a member of
5 Airborne Brigade Group who was a serving member informed
me that he was well pleased as what I had done
as it was his History...
Light bulb time"
- Jon, founder member Forces 80
Having
had such a positive response and feeling rather encouraged, they started looking into how to create a group.
Over several months and after numerous discussions between
a few friends 'Forces 80'
was created; just in time for Beltring 2005.
Their
display attracted a modest amount of attention,
again from ex-serving members of the armed forces and
they gained valuable information. At the end of the event they
concluded every unit had its own ways of doing things and as they
say "That was That".
Thanks
go to the members of
5
Airborne Brigade Group
who
repeatedly redressed members to an embarrassing degree and
the former members of the ‘Green Jackets’ who seemed
to be part of every living history group
and who came bounding over to play with the weapons.
It is
not always serious. Members take on the Dalek's at Crewe model
show 2005.
Evolution From
February 2007 the group decided to change their mandate from
representing the Army to representing the Armed Forces as a whole
following requests to do various other units. As they have portrayed
various units such as Naval Party 890, 40 Commando;
both of which were Naval
units, It was seen as an appropriate change
From
June 2008, Forces 80 decided to include 1989 to the years they represent to allow
the cover of the fall off the Berlin Wall.
Sherwood Forest 2006
©Forces80 2005-2019 |
