We’re hugely thrilled about the BBMF flypast we’re having on Sunday 28th June but some of you might not be so familiar with the aircraft which is taking the place of the mighty Lancaster which is undergoing maintenance this summer. So a few facts about the Dakota:

The C-47 is a military version of the DC-3 airliner, which first flew in 1935. Under the lend lease programme, nearly 2,000 Dakotas, as the aircraft became known in RAF service, were delivered to the UK starting in 1942. Dakotas served in every theatre of the war, most notably in Burma and also during the D-Day landings and the airborne assault on Arnhem in 1944.
C-47 Dakota III ZA947 is the last of its type serving with the RAF. This Dakota was constructed as a C-47A by Douglas at Long Beach, California, USA in 1943.
During WWII, it served entirely in Canada. After the War, Dakota ‘661’ operated in support of the Canadian forces in Europe from 1965 until 1969, when the aircraft was declared surplus to requirements and sold to Scottish Aviation at Prestwick. It was then adopted by the BBMF in 1993.
ZA947 is now painted in the markings of a 31 Sqn Dakota (FD781) which operated from India and over Burma in 1943 and ‘44. This Dakota, flown by pilot Fg Off Mike Vlasto, landed on a short jungle strip in Japanese-occupied territory in April 1943 to rescue wounded and sick Chindit soldiers. It was later given the South East Asia Command (SEAC) pale-blue and dark-blue roundels and fin flash, applied to Allied aircraft to avoid confusion with the Japanese ‘Hinomaru’. In these markings ZA947 commemorates all those who served in the “forgotten war” in the Far East

We are thrilled to announce that the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane will be performing a flypast on Sunday 28th June

Weather and other factors permitting of course.

Timing to be announced.

Just a quick post to say what a fabulous day Sunday 29th June was and to thank everyone that took part – display vehicles, traders, caterers, visitors, volunteers and marshals, sponsors, the chap who ran a hosepipe from his garden on the corner to the display field, and to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance that was called to the village the very next day.

Longer post to follow….

The big day is almost upon us and as your organising committee will be in the display field for most of Friday, Saturday and at sparrow’s fart on Sunday, just some tips and reminders to have an enjoyable event:

• the main display area and the public parking area are fields – they can be rutted and bumpy so please watch your step
• the weather forecast is good so please wear sunscreen and keep hydrated
• there will be moving vehicles all day, the speed limit is 5mph but please be aware of traffic
• there is one road through the village and there will be queues going into the display field and into the visitor parking – please be patient if you are waiting to get in or passing through Yattendon
• we have volunteer marshals in the road and in the field – they are there for your safety so please follow their instructions
• display vehicles should arrive from 8.30am onwards to the display gate between the church and the school.  Visitors should arrive from 11am and use the entrance on the eastern side (Reading side) of the village and follow the signs to the parking area.  It is a one way system and you should exit into the farm units within the Renegade Brewery site.  You can turn right to exit or left to enjoy a cold beer and a pizza
• If you are coming with a car club, please check the map on the On The Day page of the website so you can see where you will be parked
• there is a walking route to the Renegade Brewery who are serving pizza until 8pm with live music.  There will be a display of Supercars parked outside the Brewery buildings
• The Royal Oak and the Pantry will be open in the village Square as well as Yattendon Stores until 1pm.  It’s only 2 minutes walk from the display field and you will pass the village hall on the right hand side where you can use the toilets or walk up the track past the hall to Yattendon & Frilsham social club for a cold drink and friendly conversation as well as handy facilities.
• Please support our local sponsors and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance
• Have a brilliant day!

A reminder that the A34 northbound from the M4 Junction 13 (Newbury) entry to the Didcot exit will be CLOSED all weekend so the slip road that leads off the A34 at that junction towards Chieveley, Hermitage and of course, Yattendon will be closed as well.

The best idea if you are coming from that direction is to go down to the Robin Hood Junction in Newbury and take the B4009 to Yattendon or continue on the M4 to Junction 12 (Theale), ignore the Road Closed signs (Bradfield is open with 4 way traffic lights) and continue to us that way.

Or if you are a local and know the roads, Donnington is a good option

What a nightmare!
Anyway, see you Sunday for a great day.

Our local brewery, Renegade, is a generous sponsor of Yattendon Classic Vehicle Day and “Dave” the beer van is always on hand during the event for a cooling pint of beer or a non-alcoholic beverage for all you drivers.

Now,  not only can you walk to the Taproom & Kitchen from the field, but you can always pop in for a drink and something to eat after you leave the show!

Our new improved visitor exit (courtesy of Yattendon Estate) brings you out onto the land leading to the brewery so you can turn right to exit or left for beer and pizza

Their opening times are as follows:

Open 9am-9pm

Shop- 11am-9pm

Breakfast- 9am-11am

Lunch- 12-4pm

Pizzas- 5pm-8pm

 You can book via the website, or  you can just walk in on the day.

If you see these signs on the way to our event on Sunday 29th June, they are referring to the crossroads at Bradfield College.  But fear not!  This junction is open with 4 way traffic lights during weekends so you can still reach us!

The amount of money raised for Thames Valley Air Ambulance at last year’s event was £4458 and we were very pleased to hand the money over outside the famous Royal Oak pub in Yattendon on Friday 16th August.  It was a glorious day and we were able to showcase a couple of cars as well – a 1936 Rolls Royce belonging to Philip Bickford-Smith and Vic Mistry’s 1937 Vauxhall Roadster.

Just so you know who we are, from left to right:

Robert Morley  –  Logistics

Vic Mistry – Logistics

Philip Bickford-Smith – Entries

Lyn Mistry – Commercial

Mike Graham – TVAA volunteer

Lord Illiffe – Patron and Sponsor

Lizzie Harris – Organising Committee and Yattendon Estates

James Hole – Organising Committee and Yattendon Estates

So a very big Thank You to everyone who contributed to the day both in terms of donations, attendance, sponsorship and support.  We look forward to doing it all over again on Sunday 29th June 2025!

The field is quiet, the dust has settled, the banners and posters have been taken down and your organisers and volunteers have recovered from a 12 hour day when we all must have walked miles (8 miles to be exact!) so it only remains to update our social media and website and to say a big THANK YOU to everyone!

To all the display vehicle owners who came in their 100s, to all the visitors who did likewise, to the car clubs who keep this event in their calendars each year, to our stallholders and caterers, to our volunteer marshals both in the display field and those keeping the traffic flowing in the road, to those passing through who were patient in the queues behind various slow moving cars turning into the gate and to our generous sponsors who enable us to put this event on each year.

We work tremendously hard from January onwards in making this happen so it’s all worthwhile when we get such lovely comments about our event.

We’ll fully update the website ASAP and also let you know the date for next year soon – but it’s likely to be the same Sunday in June

We’re busy counting the money collected and we’ll let you know the amount raised for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance within the next week or so

So, here’s to next year!