On the blog today, Global Marketing Director Richard Sullivan, tells you about our time at We Have Ways Fest 2022

 

Unless you’ve been hibernating for the entire lockdown you’ll know all about the brilliant podcast from James Holland and Al Murray, We Have Ways of Making You Talk [https://wehavewayspod.com] which has been a mainstay of my listening over the past few years. With its focus on real stories and new analysis it takes a fresh approach to the study of the conflict, bringing out the importance of walking the ground and operational history with a wonderful array of guests.

 It has been so successful that it has grown and grown, spawning a member’s club and an annual event for aficionados of the Second World War (not World War II because we are British) to get together, listen to knowledgeable speakers, drink beer, see the hardware in action and spend a weekend with fellow enthusiasts.

 So on Saturday  Osprey ventured out in force to We Have Ways Fest at the Blackstone Brewpit near Silverstone. We brought reinforcements with us, the impeccably dressed Prit Buttar accompanied us and we met the also dapper Rob Lyman who was there for the early slot with a talk on the Indian Army and the Burma campaign. Presentations ranged widely from Katrin Himmler on the legacy of her family, John McManus on the island-hopping of the Pacific War, Katja Hoyer on the road to war, Fighting on Film with their war movie quiz to Séan Scullion on Spaniards in the British Army. Live firing of various British Army artillery pieces, including a 17 pounder were followed by a drive by of tanks and armoured vehicles including a T34 and Sherman. Our hosts, James and Al seemed to be everywhere at once, giving talks, interviewing speakers, riding in halftracks and the atmosphere was warm and friendly, with plenty of beer and sunshine.

It was an amazing day and I’m looking forward to next year and attending the whole weekend!