The Capel Military show celebrated its tenth anniversary this year and was another resounding success, writes Tim Gosling
The Capel Military Show in Dorking, Surrey, has grown considerably since its first incarnation in 2013 at Aldhurst Farm. Ten years later, the show had expanded to cover five fields and there were well over 500 military vehicles and 1,100 re-enactors, from 55 living history groups, in attendance.
What makes the Capel show such an attraction is the relationships the organisers have built with the Royal Artillery Museum at Larkhill and the REME museum at Lyneham, both of which took a selection of rare vehicles to display this year.
Also quite unusual was the number of helicopters on display, including a serving RAF Chinook. These landed in an adjoining field and there was a long queue of visitors lining up to see them. As at all military shows, the provision of food, drink and entertainment as well as trade stalls is a necessity – and Capel hit the spot. The organisers had also arranged for the well-known collector and TV personality Bruce Crompton to attend on both days in July, and he could be seen regularly chatting with visitors. Another notable guest was the Bovington Ta…
