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Nazi uniforms banned at Lancashire Railway WWII event | Nazi uniforms banned at Lancashire Railway WWII event |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Railway bosses have banned World War II re-enactors from wearing Nazi regalia during a 1940s wartime weekend. | Railway bosses have banned World War II re-enactors from wearing Nazi regalia during a 1940s wartime weekend. |
About 10,000 people are expected at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) event in Bury, Greater Manchester this weekend. | About 10,000 people are expected at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) event in Bury, Greater Manchester this weekend. |
With a large Jewish population in the borough, organisers have said they do not want to cause offence to any visitors or local residents. | With a large Jewish population in the borough, organisers have said they do not want to cause offence to any visitors or local residents. |
Anyone wearing a German or Axis officer uniform to the event will be asked to leave, a spokeswoman said. | Anyone wearing a German or Axis officer uniform to the event will be asked to leave, a spokeswoman said. |
Previous events have attracted bad publicity for a "small handful" of people turning up in German or Axis officer uniforms, a railway spokeswoman said. | |
'No swastikas' | 'No swastikas' |
"There is a large Jewish community on our doorstep in Prestwich, so obviously there was concerns raised about seeing people dressed up in German officers' uniforms," she added. | |
"Clearly we don't wish to offend anyone so this year we have taken quite a clear stance towards that and are saying all wearing or German officer or Axis uniforms are banned. | "Clearly we don't wish to offend anyone so this year we have taken quite a clear stance towards that and are saying all wearing or German officer or Axis uniforms are banned. |
"That doesn't mean you cant come dressed up and obviously a normal soldier's uniform is fine. | "That doesn't mean you cant come dressed up and obviously a normal soldier's uniform is fine. |
"It's the officers showing the swastika or the SS insignia that is really what we don't want to see." | "It's the officers showing the swastika or the SS insignia that is really what we don't want to see." |
The spokeswoman said the decision followed representations from the Jewish community in the area. | The spokeswoman said the decision followed representations from the Jewish community in the area. |
No-one from the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester could be reached for comment. | No-one from the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester could be reached for comment. |
The award-winning event is now in its 13th year and attracts visitors and WWII history enthusiasts from across the north west. | The award-winning event is now in its 13th year and attracts visitors and WWII history enthusiasts from across the north west. |
The three-day programme, which starts on Saturday, covers the full 12-mile line from Bury to Heywood and Rawtenstall and includes live battle re-enactments, an authentic military camp, 1940s fashion stalls, afternoon tea dances and musicians. | The three-day programme, which starts on Saturday, covers the full 12-mile line from Bury to Heywood and Rawtenstall and includes live battle re-enactments, an authentic military camp, 1940s fashion stalls, afternoon tea dances and musicians. |
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