I remember in the beginning 2004 little or no knowledge of the event, loads of customers, our own special T-Shirts, litter picking (with Bert who at the time was the scariest man alive but was a big softy once you got to know him!) and generally just feeling really tired.
In 2005 i was part of the "Cru" we were and always will be the best set of staff that the Hop Farm will ever know and it was officially the best place to work. Again T-shirts issued we were poised on our tills in reception waiting to open the automatic doors at opening time! With a queue back down to the car park. 2005, saw the competition begin between two teams, myself and Ellen and Nancy and Amy, the competition was on to collect as many free items as possible from around the show whilst litter picking and trying to avoid Bert who if he caught you slacking would find you some horrible job to do! This was also the year Dieter thought it was hilarious to put me in the NAFFI shop, not so funny for me early starts and late finishes selling fags to people in fake uniforms carrying guns...... I think this may have been the first year that i attended the party on the Sunday evening although we didn't really know a lot of people at this point!
2006 saw the invasion of Simon Hume-Kendall, Debbie and Jan. Not really knowing a lot about these people, i worked in reception again by this point properly knowing what i was talking about, doing the currency exchange in the reception. I remember fondly starting at 7am every day getting set up and getting all the tills out of the safe room and then staying till the end cashing them all up.... I didn't really know a lot about Debbie and Jan at this point apart from they were running around in security uniforms acting like they knew everything and collecting money off us. Debbie had hired a campervan that was parked outside reception on the grass, we sat there and ate noodles one night after we had locked up, i seem to think that was the night that Debbie did her knee in, working the night shift and then couldn't walk the following day! The start of a friendship that would very much have an impact on my life ...... although there have been some rough patches i'm glad i made the choices that i did........
2007 my favourite year by this point i had my SIA license i had the stab vest and i was ready to see a whole other side of the show! I moved in to the caravan on the Saturday before the show and then duty began patrolling, checking on entrances, fences, campers etc. Then the show days began, more patrolling, plenty of eating, lots of cooking, lots of laughter and excellent company in Malcolm's swamp, especially with the pole dancing and radio war and peace the explicit version as well as good time in the Barmy Army encampment. Then the public days began, Red official shirt and the day job to do running the admissions in the day and then the black security uniform in the evening. Working from 6am in the morning when the officials breakfast and briefing began until the bars shut the following morning at 3am for 5 days solid. Sorting out fights in bars, sleeping on loads of money, First aid, getting up in the middle of the night not knowing what the hell is going on, gas and air consumption with the one and only Medix team and lots of funny moments. Best of all quad biking in the arena once everyone else has gone obviously checking all was "safe". The weather was grim the ground was like a mud bath but the spirit of the show remained and all was well at Beltring. The party this year was something else, the best of the best, everyone was there and i had the free drink vouchers always a winner. It was a good night although the drink went straight to my head having had about 15 hours sleep over the past 5 days! Debbie my partner in crime didn't make it to the party, she was too tired but me Katey and Kate stayed in the caravan that night, i seem to remember they all got sent home from work the next day for being too hungover/drunk?!? This was after Kate fell asleep on the grass outside!
2008 was to be my final War and Peace and i only managed the run up security duties and the first public day before i was rushed into hospital direct from the show........ However i could feel it changing it wasn't the same Debbie was about to have Charlie, Reception was being run by others and Jon Rush was after my job! The 5th and final War and Peace actually marked the end of my time there and i have to say there were a lot of other tales of War and Peace that aren't suitable to be told on here!
Fantastic memories and what a show to be a part of you don't realise what goes into it until you get under it's skin and made one of the team!
Booking in, yes it was slightly damp, somebody crashed into someone else because they couldn't stop!
Dinner in the luxury of the freelander aka death trap
The 2007 team :)
They do take it a bit far sometimes!
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