UCLan organised collaborative event attracts more than 100 people to a NAFFI Tea Party to celebrate Armed Forces Day
Preston was awash with 1940s glamour on Saturday as civic dignitaries and members of the public joined staff and students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to celebrate Armed Forces Day.
A 1940s style NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) Tea Party, organised by UCLan’s Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership, attracted more than 100 guests to the Old Post Office, in Preston.
The guests stepped back in time to experience all the fun of the decade without the rationing. Favourite wartime tunes were played by Leyland Band while a sing along took place with UCLan alumna Chloe Walker. Other entertainment included an afternoon tea, a swing dance class and a 1940s photo booth, complete with make up from the time.
"We were absolutely thrilled to see so many people making the effort to get in to the spirit of the 1940s whilst raising money for fantastic charities and social enterprises supporting our armed forces personnel, veterans and their families."
UCLan Volunteer Support Officer Becky Steel: “We were absolutely thrilled to see so many people making the effort to get in to the spirit of the 1940s whilst raising money for fantastic charities and social enterprises supporting our armed forces personnel, veterans and their families.
“The afternoon was a great success due to the time and effort invested from everyone involved from the veterans and volunteers who prepared the venue to UCLan Catering Services providing a fantastic afternoon tea to the public who purchased tickets, what better way to celebrate armed forces day than experiencing all the fun of the forties and fundraising at the same time.”
The event was the final part of the Preston Poppies collaboration. It was supported by Dig In North West, Armed Forces Group Preston, The Poppy Factory, Brick, Lancashire Infantry Museum, Creativity Works, Eric Wright Waste Water, REMEC Engineering Services, Skills Construction Centre, Preston Remembers, Jazzswingdance.co.uk, Leyland Band, Inspirations Dance Group, Preston City Council and UCLan.
View images from the event on UCLan's Flickr Gallery.