A Trip Down Memory Lane at Lydd Airport - The Home Of World Dance

This weekend (9th Dec 2023), I embarked on a road trip that was more than just a journey across miles; it was a voyage through time. My destination?

The legendary Lydd Airport a name that echoes through the history of the UK rave scene as the host of the iconic World Dance events three decades ago.

Lydd Airport: More Than a Venue

For those of us who lived and breathed rave culture in the '90s, Lydd Airport isn't just a location; it's a symbol.

It's where World Dance united thousands, where music wasn't just heard but felt, and memories were etched into the very essence of our being.

A Familiar Flutter of Excitement

As I approached the infamous venue, the familiar outline emerging in the distance, something remarkable happened – Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, a physical echo of the excitement I used to feel decades ago.

It was as if the years peeled back, and for a moment, I was that same rave enthusiast, filled with anticipation for the night ahead.

This feeling, unexpected yet deeply familiar, was a testament to the enduring impact of those rave days in this old hanger.

The Lydd Airport welcome sign in the 90s.

The Lydd Airport welcome sign in 2023.

Approaching World Dance at Lydd Airport in the 90s 

Approaching Lydd Airport in December 2023 

A Stroll Around the Grounds

Walking around the now quiet grounds, I couldn't help but feel a surge of nostalgia. The contrast was striking – the silence of the present against the backdrop of the past's energy.

The changes are evident, with the addition of some new buildings and the main hanger appearing to have refurbed since its rusty days of the '90s.

I captured a few photos of the exterior, a humble attempt to freeze a moment of this historic site in time.

Comparing Past and Present

What makes this visit even more special is the collection of photos I took during the heydays of World Dance, right here at Lydd Airport.

Placing these old photos next to the ones I took yesterday is like opening a time capsule, revealing the layers of time and change, yet underlined by an unchanging passion for the rave scene.

The Lydd Airport main hanger at World Dance in the 90s.

The Lydd Airport main hanger in December 2023.

World Dance Main Hanger at Lydd Airport in the 90s.

The new look main hanger at Lydd Airport today.

Parking on Lydd Airport runway at World Dance during the 90s.

New buildings alongside the main hanger at Lydd Airport today.

The Legacy Lives On

Visiting Lydd has been a personal pilgrimage and reaffirmed my commitment to keeping the essence of the '90s rave culture alive.  As I left the Airport, I carried with me more than just photographs; I carried a renewed sense of purpose.

Though the raves have long since ceased, and the crowds have dispersed, the spirit of those times lingers. It's this spirit that I strive to encapsulate through Dad's Old Vinyl.

The contrast of the past and present in these images is a powerful reminder of our journey – from the ecstatic nights of World Dance to the present day.

Through Dad's Old Vinyl, the legacy of venues like Lydd Airport and the spirit of the '90s rave scene will continue to resonate in the hearts of the original Old Skool heads and the new generation.