She was a welcome sight as the bombs rained down on London during the Second World War. Now the 1941 Austin K2 NAAFI wagon has a second lease of life in the hands of Joanne Bater.

Throughout the summer Warden Bay resident Joanne is a familiar feature at military pageants and shows, serving enamel mugs of tea and slabs of nourishing bread pudding.

The 37-year-old, whose husband Paul restores vehicles for a living, is so “in love” with the vehicle, she even talks to it.

She said: “I often think of the devastation she must have seen around the Walworth Road area where she was based during the war. Those firefighters must have been so glad of somewhere to get a cup of tea as they fought to save the blazing buildings.”

The NAAFI wagon has since undergone a brief film career, appearing in Goodnight Mister Tom, Charlotte Gray and Enigma.

Joanne added: “I first became interested in military vehicles at the War and Peace Show in 1999. My son Jack had just been born and I realised it was time to give up water and snow skiing, parachuting and the other sports I was keen on.

“Paul and I bought a caravan and because my father is keen on military vehicles we decided to take a holiday there.

Friendly

“At first I had misgivings. But everyone was so friendly and we had such a good time that I decided to become more involved.

“After the show, I bought a Jeep, which I still have, and became North Kent secretary of the Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society.”

It was Paul who first spotted the NAAFI wagon at a military pageant at Woolwich. He became so excited about it he couldn’t sleep.

The first time they put the vehicle on show was at Chatham Dockyard, just as an exhibit, not to serve refreshments.

“But people kept coming up and asking for cups of tea and of course we couldn’t resist serving them,” said Joanne. “She’s almost exactly as she was during the war and we have old cigarettes and advertising signs around to make her even more authentic.

“I have had her checked out by Swale environmental services just to make sure she complies with the regulation.

“But there is no way I could run her as a business. What we take over the counter doesn’t come near what it costs to run her. She’s always breaking down and she only does 12 miles to a gallon of petrol.”

At last year’s War and Peace Show, the popular Jive Aces swing and rock band were among her customers.

“I’m sure it was my bread pudding that made them give such a brilliant performance,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to the show in July.”