Basically that was true, but I was born in 1944 when most of the action was drawing to a close. And as a babe in arms I was in reality far too young to have known anything about it.

But last weekend in the heart of Clumber Park I was able to have some idea of what life really was like during those dark times when our country was under threat from Adolph Hitler.

The weather over the two days was far from good, but that didn't stop participants in EventPlan's Wartime Clumber event from putting on a show with a difference to the delight of those who braved the wind and rain.

The event depicted the Home Front during the war years when the park was itself a huge munitions centre.

With background music courtesy of The Moonlight Serenaders setting the scene, visitors could be forgiven if they really did believe they had been transported back to the 1940s as they made their way through the Park's Turning Yard where it was all happening.

The standard set by those dressed in period costumes was so high and the fact that there were so many of them, I really did feel that I was somehow managing to slip back in time.

What made it so special for me was the amount of preparation that individual participants had put in to make sure that every aspect was correct - not just the costumes but minor details as well.

Consequently, when a contingent of Home Guard soldiers was trying to sort out its squad drill under the watchful eye of their commanding officer, it really did look like the real thing.

And when a group of American GIs were charming the ladies, who could deny that they could quite easily have been the Yanks camping out in Clumber.

And when mum was brewing up mugs of tea it was the real thing in real tin mugs.

As well as a visit from Sir Winston Churchill (courtesy of look-alike Robert Burns), police officers, evacuees, members of the armed forces, civilians and period cars were all there adding to the authenticity of the event.

And younger visitors were well catered for by Stephen (Abs) Wisdom who had them all - adults as well - in stitches with his hilarious rendition of Punch and Judy - Mr Punch versus Adolph Hitler.

Although the weather was unkind, the participants played their part in true war-time spirit - carrying on regardless.

Clumber Park and the National Trust are to be congratulated for staging events such as this one. The historic surroundings lend themselves to them and we can but hope that they will continue to be staged in a similar vein in the future.