AUTHENTIC World War Two food will be served up at Chipping Sodbury’s Big Lunch this Sunday (June 1).

Ann Murray, who runs Cooking4 cookery school in the town, is preparing wartime food made from rations handed out during the period.

Among the dishes on offer will be Ann’s Dig for Victory soup, her own take on the less inspiringly-named Household Soup, made of any available vegetables and red lentils.

Former history teacher Ann will also share her modern take on Woolton pie, named after popular Minister of Food Frederick Marquis, the 1st Lord Woolton, who oversaw rationing in the 1940s and 1950s.

“He was very popular but his pie, despite being created by a chef at the Savoy Hotel, was less so,” said Ann. “It was made with vegetables, thickened with oatmeal and topped with potato pastry.

“I am doing a small original pie but will be making my own much tastier version.”

Also on view will be displays of a week’s worth of rations for an adult, child and a pregnant woman.

“I used to teach this period in secondary school and thought I knew a lot of it but once you start researching the food you find out so much more,” she said. “It is fascinating. Even though food was rationed people were much fitter and healthier because they ate real food.

“There are so many things we could learn from that time.”

Ann’s wartime food samples will be available outside 61 Broad Street during the 1940s themed Big Lunch, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, on Sunday (12noon-6pm). Inside the building local historian Jim Elsworth is staging a photographic exhibition of the 165 American Signal Company stationed in Chipping Sodbury during WW2. There will also be six military vehicles on display, artefacts and armoury.

Entertainment includes 1940s band The Cat’s Pyjamas, Sodbury Players, Razzamataz and REDDS dance group, a children’s fancy dress competition and a miniature garden competition.

People are encouraged to bring their own picnics, tables and chairs to Broad Street and meet their neighbours.

For more information search Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch 2014 on Facebook or follow @CSBigLunch on Twitter.

Ann is running children's wartime cookery classes this summer. For further details call 01454 881772 or visit www.cooking4.co.uk