A Lochaber hall will slip back in time on August 30 as part of a World War 2 open day and gala marking the completion of a project highlighting the role of 30,000 commandos who trained in the area. One of the features at Caol Community Centre will be a specially crafted 'concrete' bunker bar where drinks and refreshments will be sold by helpers wearing 1940's-style clothes. There will be a jive dancing and a swing band playing Glenn Miller music and other contemporary tunes. The organisers say they will be delighted if visitors enter into the spirit of the occasion by wearing fashions of the era. The event, which starts at 1pm, will be preceded by a ceremony at the Spean Bridge Commando Memorial which will remember those who died in the war and subsequent conflicts. A two minute silence will be held and prayers led by the Rev. Adrian Varwell of Duncansburgh MacIntosh Parish Church. Representatives of all the services will be present and also the Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps. A Royal Navy rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet will hover over the memorial at around 11.30am while flying the white ensign and will then take a circular route around the Great Glen.

Then visitors will be invited to take part in the Caol Community Centre Open day which starts at 1pm and will host a number of themed attractions. Among the highlights will be a visit by a coastguard helicopter which, if conditions allow, will demonstrate winching at a nearby beach.Among the other attractions will be a flight simulator which will be able to accommodate up to 12 people for an exciting experience and, for youngsters, a bouncy castle. There will also be a display of wartime weapons and a chance to see how bomb disposal teams work and what they have found on beaches.

For those wanting to test their endurance there will a Royal Marine assessment course. The best competitor will win a prize.

A number of local businesses have donated prizes for a raffle, including whisky with the label ?United We Conquer.? Visitors will have chance to buy from stalls run by the service groups taking part.

Before the open day there will be a reception for invited guests. Among them will be service representatives and local MP Charles Kennedy. The event, funded by a grant from the Armed Forces Community Covenant, is being organised by Lochaber Archaeological Society headed by Robert Cairns. The society has ensured the role of commandos who trained at Achnacarry near Spean Bridge is remembered by a new Commando Trail. They have placed interpretation panels at eight locations, starting at Spean Bridge Station where the commandos arrived by train and then marched to Achnacarry to undergo vigorous training. The society has carried out an extensive metal detector search of the training area and discovered thousands of relics, including a helmet, spent cartridges, coins and badges. Many of these will be on show at the hall.