The REME Museum in Lyneham is preparing for its second annual REME Museum Extravaganza on Saturday, 28th June, 2025, as part of the UK's Armed Forces Day celebrations.
This family-friendly event will honour the dedication of serving military personnel, veterans, and their families with a day of exciting displays, Summer Fete-style games, and activities.
This year's event holds special significance, marking 80 years since the end of World War Two, prompting the museum to create an inclusive experience for the entire community to show their support for the local Armed Forces.
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with soldiers from local REME units, including regular and reserve personnel, and explore a range of vehicles and equipment used by the British Army in both operational and training scenarios.
Highlights include a Support Vehicle Recovery (SVR) unit that visitors can operate and an Apache helicopter, open for exploration thanks to the School of Army Aeronautical Engineering at Lyneham.
Visitors can also test their skills with virtual reality welding and compete in a timed wheel change challenge!
"We're proud to be so connected with the serving Corps and are incredibly grateful to our local REME units for their help with this event," said Museum Director, Major (Retired) Rick Henderson.
"We couldn't do it without them and hope it helps to spread the word about what REME do and have been doing since World War Two."
In addition to the military displays, the event will feature a showcase of recovery vehicles from the museum's rarely-seen Reserve Vehicle Collection.
Families can enjoy inflatable axe-throwing, arcade-style basketball, hook-a-duck, target practice, and more.
Local businesses will be on hand with stalls offering handmade goods and services, and the Crown's Café, along with food vans, will provide refreshments throughout the day.
This year's event will also feature musical performances from the Lyneham Military Wives Choir.
A prize raffle will raise funds for the REME Charity, supporting serving and ex-REME personnel and contributing to the long-term preservation of the Corps' history through the museum.
Tickets are available online at www.rememuseum.org.uk and include access to all museum galleries, exhibitions, the 'Dig for Victory' vegetable patch, MOD Lyneham Memorial Garden, and the under 7s playpark.
Visitors are encouraged to book in advance.
Free parking is available, but reservations are recommended due to limited space. Alternative means of travel are encouraged.
The REME Museum tells the story of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, formed in 1942. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:30. Follow the REME Museum on Facebook for more updates.
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