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The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1 K9942 displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been presented with a prestigious ‘Engineering Heritage Award’ by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The awards, established in 1984, celebrate the contribution of mechanical engineering past and present, recognising artefacts, sites and landmarks of significant engineering importance.

The Spitfire was recognised for the contribution and vital role it played both in terms of protecting our nation and its pioneering engineering. The award was presented to RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton by current Chair of IMechE’s Engineering Heritage Committee John Wood, with fellow IMechE members in attendance.

Built in Woolston, Southampton in 1939 this early Mark 1 is the world’s oldest surviving Spitfire. Designed by R J Mitchell, the Spitfire combined strength, lightness and streamlining with the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. From the beginning pilots recognised it as a thoroughbred combining a perfection of design with superb handling characteristics.

RAF Museum Cosford Curator, Tom Hopkins said:
“The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It won immortal fame during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. Although Hurricanes outnumbered Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, it was the Spitfire which captured the imagination of the British public and enemy alike. The Spitfire was developed into many subsequent variants and continued to serve with the RAF until well after the end of the Second World War.”

Chair of IMechE’s Engineering Heritage Committee, John Wood said:
“The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is delighted to present this award to the Spitfire to recognise the huge contribution, its designers and pilots made during the Battle of Britain. The UK’s large aerospace industry is built on the rich heritage of engineering innovation which is a legacy of aircraft such as the Spitfire.”

Spitfires first went into service in August 1938 with No.19 Squadron and by the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. Production rapidly built up and by July 1940 there were nineteen Spitfire Mk 1 squadrons available. 1,566 Spitfire Mk 1’s were built and the example on display at RAF Museum Cosford is the oldest surviving example of its type. The aircraft can be viewed daily from 10am in the Museum’s War in the Air hangar. Entry to the Museum is free and further details can be found at www.rafmuseum.org/cosford.

This is the 129th Engineering Heritage Award to be presented by IMechE, which has over 120,000 members across the UK and overseas, with over 400 members based in Shropshire. By holding events and working on engineering initiatives, they aim to raise the profile of engineering across a broad spectrum of industries and offer practical guidance and support to engineers. Further details can be found at www.imeche.org.

Forthcoming events taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford during 2020:

Visitors can expect to see all the big favourites making a return, including the Cosford Food Festival, Outdoor Cinema, Spitfire 10K and Large Model Air Show as well as new events including a VE Weekend Street Party taking place over the first May bank holiday weekend.

RAF Museum Cosford Public Events Executive, Nathan Davis said:
“2020 promises to be another big year for the RAF Museum Cosford with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain being a big theme running through this year’s events line-up. Not only will we commemorate this important milestone in Royal Air Force history with a brand new display arriving in the Spring, I’m excited to announce we will be holding a Proms in September with musical acts suitable for all the family, marking 80 years since the Battle of Britain.”
The busy schedule of events caters to the Museum’s wide and diverse audience and begins the year with a Photography Night Shoot where the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2 and British Aerospace Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) will be wheeled out of the hangars. Displayed outside and lit with LED lighting, this evening event will give photographers and aviation enthusiasts alike the exclusive opportunity to capture images of the aircraft like never before (limited places remaining).

The summer months will see many of the biggest events in the Museum’s calendar take place. Held on the airfield in July will be the Large Model Air Show packed with flying displays and family entertainment, followed by the popular Cosford Food Festival which this year will feature 2019 Master Chef: The Professionals winner Stu Deeley from Birmingham. The Vintage and Handmade Festival will be back for a third year in August and September will see two more Outdoor Cinema screenings where hundreds of films fans can enjoy watching classic movies under the stars and surrounded by aircraft.

Nathan Davis continues:
“We look forward to welcoming back repeat visitors, along with those just discovering us for the first time. Tickets are already on sale for many of our events and they’re filling up fast. The first Pillows and Pilots Sleepover date is already fully booked and we have just half the places remaining for the second date in March. One of our most sought-after events is the Spitfire 10K and over half the 1,500 places available have already been snapped up by keen runner’s eager to get their hands on the bespoke medal and the chance to race across the airfield.”

Later in the year visitors can expect to see much more of the aircraft on display during the Open Cockpits Weekend in October and the annual Conservation Centre Open Week in November where aviation fans can go behind the scenes and speak with the team who carries out the work.

Organisers are confident the RAF Museum’s great offer, combined with an exciting events programme will make a visit to remember!

For further information on the events taking place throughout 2020, visit the Museum’s website www.rafmuseum.org/cosford. Admission charges apply for some events and activities. Events may be subject to change and additional events may be added during the year. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry is FREE of charge.

Keep a look out in 2020 for the RAF Museum’s Spitfire tour of the West Midlands, details coming soon…!

4 April, 2020 – Indoor Aeroboot / Aerojumble aviation & avionic sale

48 sellers tables all hosted inside Display Hangar 2 amongst the aircraft at the museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire.

Open 9am to 2pm
{Special discount admission rates apply, open to everyone to attend.}

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16 & 17 May, 2020 – Cold War Call Up 20

An event to celebrate the diverse range of exhibits at the museum from both sides of the Cold War period of history; it will feature open aircraft cockpits, visiting displays and is open to the public.

Open 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm)
{Normal admission rates apply}

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20 & 21 June, 2020 – Cockpit-Fest & Aeroboot

This annual gathering provides the perfect opportunity for the public to view a diverse range of visiting aircraft cockpits.

Open 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm)
{Normal admission rates apply}

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3 & 4 October, 2020 – Autumn 1940s Weekend

This 1940s event will feature under cover 1940s entertainment and give re-enactors the chance to wear your winter period clothing {Normal admission rates apply}

Open 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm)
{Normal admission rates apply}

Newark Air Museum
Drove Lane
Winthorpe
Newark
Notts
NG24 2NY
Tel: 01636 707170
Email: enquire@newarkairmuseum.org
Website: www.newarkairmuseum.org

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Full details about these and other museum activities can be found on the news & event pages of the website, which are regularly updated www.newarkairmuseum.org

Adults £9.00, Over 65s £8.00, Children £4.50 and Family ticket [2 adults & 3 children] £24.00

During a visit to the Imperial War Museums (IWMs) site at Duxford on Wednesday 4th December, 2019; volunteers and staff from Newark Air Museum undertook the first de-panelling work on Eurofighter Typhoon DA4, ZH590. This work is in preparation for the eventual dismantling, move and basic reassembly of ZH590.

To help meet some of its charitable aims around this particular project the museum has just launched a Just Giving page to help raise the funds required to provide temporary undercover accommodation for the final reassembly of DA4.

The museum hopes that ZH590 will arrive at their site in eastern Nottinghamshire, in late January 2020 where the airframe will be reassembled. Due to the potentially changeable weather at that time of the year, this work will need to be carried out in a large temporary marquee that will be hired for this part of the project.

The stated aim is to raise £6,700 to meet the hire costs for the 20m x 20m aluminium structure, covering and support weights to tether the structure to a new hardstanding area that will be laid on the Southfield Site, behind the new Museum Cafe.

Contributions can be made via this weblink.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Newark-Air-Museum-DA4-reassembly-cover

Sunday December 8th 2019

Put on your winter woollies and head to Brooklands Museum on Sunday 8th December for a day of Christmas-themed fayre and entertainment.

Against the backdrop of the iconic Clubhouse, the Paddock will be transformed into a wintry scene, illuminated with festive lights and a Christmas tree and stalls selling hot mulled wine, winter coffees and mince pies to keep you warm.

Throughout the day there will be performances from the Weybridge Male Voice Choir and a brass band, with sing-along-carols around the tree, as well as a Christmas craft workshop for visitors to make their own decorations to take home.

Soak up the nostalgia as you walk through the motoring village adorned with wreaths and festive décor and get up close to some fabulous classic cars brought out from the collection especially for the day. The organisers also plan to start up the famous Napier-Railton, a giant racing car built in 1933 that broke 37 world records.

There is also a chance to pick up a few presents for friends and family. The Museum Shop is always stocked with exclusive lines of memorabilia all with a Brooklands twist but for this season they will also be showcasing some perfect Christmas gift ideas. Additionally, Brooklands Members will receive 10% off all purchases in the Shop during December.

The site will be open as usual which always includes a warm welcome from the Brooklands Volunteers so make sure you explore the Award-winning Aircraft Factory, go on board Concorde and wander through the motoring sheds to discover Brooklands’ rich and varied past.

For directions, entry details and information about more upcoming events, visit www.brooklandsmuseum.com

Date: 30 November – 5 January 2020 / Time: 10.00am to 3.00pm / Cost: £3 per person

Join us at the Royal Air Force Museum this festive season and take part in the Letters Home trail, inspired by letters sent during the war from personnel serving overseas, to their loved ones back at home. Families will be given a letter created using real extracts, but to read the letter in full, youngsters will need to search the hangars to find all the missing words. With nine words to find across huge hangars packed full of aircraft, it’s no easy task and will require lots of eagle eyed youngsters!

To assist with the search, which takes place from 30 November 2019 – 5 January 2020, the Museum has produced a Letters Home trail sheet so you can fill in the gaps as you make your way around the hangars in search for the missing words. For everyone who successfully manages to find all the missing words, get your letter stamped with the RAF badge and then receive your chocolate reward.

RAF Museum Public Events Manager (London), Ella Hewitt said:
“The Letters Home trail uses real letters from the RAF Museum’s archive, sent during the First and Second World War from serving personnel in the Armed Forces to their family, friends and loved ones over the Christmas period. They talk of their Christmas experience whilst deployed overseas, some are sad other are humorous, but all are sent with great fondness. By combining extracts from several letters, the Museum has created its own ‘letter home’ and now requires the help of families to complete it.”

RAF Museum Public Events Manager (Cosford), Abi Betteridge said:
“Families will also have a rare opportunity to wish those serving abroad this festive season a very happy Christmas by writing a ‘Bluey’ to serving RAF personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falklands or Cyprus (RAF Aktrotiri) for them to open in the New Year. Our specially designed Bluey is inspired by the Armed Force’s Aerogrammes, known as Bluey’s, which are a way of sending letters and messages for free to Force’s personnel on operational duty. Children can choose which base they would like to send their letter to by adding one of our special stamps and posting it in the Museum’s post box. In the new year all the letters will be posted by the Museum to the four RAF bases across the globe for the personnel to read.”

Families can purchase their Letters Home trail on arrival for just £3 per person and they have until the Museum closes to complete the trail and collect their chocolate reward. The trail is suitable for children of all ages, but younger children may require some assistance. Writing a Bluey is a free activity for all Museum visitors wishing to take part. Before you head home, why not pose for a photo with one of the giant Christmas pudding and Christmas Tree selfie boards as a fun memento of the day.

Each participant will also get a 10% discount in the Museum shop on the day of their visit by showing their trail sheet when making a purchase from the Museum Shop.

The Museum is open daily from 10.00am and entry is free of charge (excluding 24-26 December and 1 January). For more information on the Christmas activities taking place at the Museum visit www.rafmuseum.org.

Brooklands Museum in Weybridge has been named ‘Tourist attraction of the year’ at the prestigious Surrey Business Awards 2019 for its unique visitor experience and community initiatives.

Presented by the award-winning broadcaster and comedian, Mark Dolan, the evening held at Epsom Downs Racecourse on 21st November recognised many start-up companies, charities and professional services for their work.

Alongside Brooklands Museum, other well-known venues across the county competed for the Tourist Attraction of the Year award, including Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Painshill Park, Cobham and the Silent Pool Gin Distillery in Albury.

Tamalie Newbury, Director and CEO of Brooklands Museum said:

“We are so very excited that we won this award! Our nomination covered every element of what we do that not only makes Brooklands Museum such a great place for visitors, but which also gives something back to many people in our community and inspires people to shape their futures through the stories we tell of what people accomplished here.

This is an award for our team, our volunteers and everyone else who helps and supports the Museum, it’s great that our efforts have been recognised. We have a lot planned over the next couple of years that will make Brooklands Museum an even more exciting place to visit, you should all come and see it for yourselves!”

Chairman of Brooklands Museum, Sir Gerry Acher said:

“I’m thrilled to hear that we have won the Surrey tourism award. I’d like to congratulate Tamalie, her team and our volunteers in making Brooklands such an outstanding place for all to visit. Well done all.”

The major transformations at the Museum in recent years have almost certainly contributed to this achievement. In 2017 the WWII hangar was relocated and re-interpreted on site as the Brooklands Aircraft Factory. This significant, large-scale exhibition space won the Museums and Heritage Award for best new permanent exhibition the following year.

As well as the vast collections of cars, motorcycles, aircraft and the dynamic events programme that runs throughout the year, there are opportunities to learn a variety of skills, join a 7,000-strong Volunteer force or participate in one of the many motoring events on site. Brooklands also welcomes families on the autism spectrum with special openings, hosts a reminiscence café for those affected by dementia and welcomes over 15,000 school children from in and around the County on organised trips.

Together with a refreshed brand and logo design complemented by a new introductory film and interpretation, the visitor experience has been invigorated. Brooklands was known for its pioneering sense of adventure and people returning to the Museum after a gap of some years are noticing the changes.

The Museum is open all year round and details of its work, collections, events and how to become involved in many opportunities can be found by visiting www.brooklandsmuseum.com

A big #ThanksToYou thank you …..

We have now come to the end of our involvement with 25th Birthday of The National Lottery #ThanksToYou campaign.

Despite some indifferent weather we have welcomed more than two hundred (200) National Lottery players and members of their family for a free visit to our Gateway Aviation Site this weekend. These visitors have come from many different regions including, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and of course Nottinghamshire.

This was our second year of participating in the scheme and we are pleased to report that more people took up this free offer than they did in 2018.

We would like to say a special thank you to various people who helped make the weekend a success; this includes the museum staff working away in the café and shop; the dedicated team of aircraft openers and volunteers who helped over the weekend; and all of the visitors who came along. We would also like to give a special mention to the staff at the National Lottery Promotions Unit for all of their ideas, support and encouragement, during the campaign.

“Despite the damp conditions during the weekend we saw increased visitors taking part in the #ThanksToYou campaign,” commented Museum Trustee, Howard Heeley, he continued…

“As someone who was involved in the original project team that helped to implement the Heritage Lottery funded Hangar 2 building at the museum back in 2003/4; it was really nice to see the visitors exploring the twenty five (25) aircraft and cockpits that are now displayed in there.”

He concluded, “The poor weather conditions this weekend, helped to illustrate why Hangar 2 is so important to the museum. Not only does it help to protect the exhibits, it also provides a dry location where visitors can enjoy looking at the exhibits and displays.”

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Chelsea Foundation has today announced a partnership with the Royal Air Force Museum. The partnership is sponsored by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and will support the RAF Museum’s development of the Jewish ‘Hidden Heroes’ project.

The RAF Museum has developed the ‘Hidden Heroes’ project to raise awareness about the previously untold story of Jewish personnel in the RAF during the Second World War and the vital role they played. These heroes joined the Royal Air Force from all over the world, to fight against tyranny, racism and anti-Semitism, fully aware that they risked torture and execution if captured.

The RAF played a crucial part in the defeat of the Luftwaffe in the famous ‘Battle of Britain’, preventing the Nazis from invading Britain, the last democratic stronghold in Europe. The RAF Museum is committed to sharing the story of the important role the Jewish personnel played across the RAF in winning the Second World War and defeating Hitler. Their fascinating stories are a powerful window to the past through which we can make links to today and inspire future generations.

The new project will be launched next year for the 80th anniversary of the ‘Battle of Britain’ and seeks to tell the stories of Jewish veterans to preserve their memory, and act as a challenge to antisemitism, racism and discrimination.

The RAF Museum and Chelsea Foundation are now inviting people from all over the world to submit their own stories – as well as those of families and friends, of Jewish personnel in the Second World War – so they can be preserved and shared online and at the Museum’s public sites.

On December 4th, the partnership will formally be launched at Stamford Bridge. The launch event will feature Jewish RAF veterans, as well as specially invited guests.

Maggie Appleton MBE, CEO at the RAF Museum, said:

‘We are tremendously grateful to Roman Abramovich and Chelsea FC for supporting the RAF Museum’s Jewish ‘Hidden Heroes’ project.’

‘The Battle of Britain was the RAF’s defining moment, when they stood firm against Hitler and fascism. With many Jewish RAF personnel playing crucial roles, the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2020 provides the perfect opportunity to remember these incredible people.’

‘By highlighting their stories, we want to play our part in calling out the rise in anti-Semitism – and wider racism – in our society.’

Bruce Buck, Chelsea FC Chairman, said:

‘We are delighted to be able to support the RAF Museum with this project. ‘

‘Chelsea FC is committed to tackling antisemitism through education and the Jewish ‘Hidden Heroes’ tells important stories about the bravery of Jewish RAF personnel during the conflict.’

‘Since we launched our ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign in January 2018, and under the leadership of Roman Abramovich, we have been focussed on tackling racism and discrimination in the stands and in wider society.’

‘There can be no place in our society for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination – and we are determined to join with others to tackle this vital cause.’

Stage One of the Jewish ‘Hidden Heroes’ project involves the collation of stories from Jewish RAF personnel within the Museum’s RAF Stories digital storytelling site. The project will include:

• Video interviews with Jewish veterans and family members
• Animated videos of Jewish stories drawn from RAF Museum archives
• On-screening of these videos in the RAF Museum Galleries

To discover more about RAF Stories, please visit: www.rafstories.org

To share a story, please download the RAF Stories app or contact their team at rafstories@rafmuseum.org or on 01902 376 237.

More detail of Chelsea’s Say No To Anti-Semitism campaign can be found here: www.chelseafc.com/en/foundation/say-no-to-antisemitism

More details about the RAF Museum can be found here: www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Aerospace Bristol has been awarded over £8,500 from the UK Space Agency, enabling the museum to expand and improve upon its highly-popular Mission to Mars workshops.

The workshops see pupils take on the role of space explorers, building and coding robots to navigate a representation of the Martian surface. Along the way, pupils of all ages have the chance to discover the important role engineers and designers play in exploring other planets.

Amy Seadon, Learning & Community Engagement Manager at Aerospace Bristol, said: “We’re really excited that Aerospace Bristol’s Mission to Mars workshops are being supported by the UK Space Agency. Together we will encourage more young people to engage with space exploration through fun, hands-on activities. The funding will also support the development and delivery of new activities, where museum visitors of all ages will be able to take on their own mini mission to Mars.“

Mission to Mars workshops are available for Key Stages 1 to 5 and more information can be found at www.aerospacebristol.org/schools.

Aerospace Bristol offers an inspiring and practical learning programme, developed in partnership with industry and delivered in fully-equipped learning spaces. A range of workshops are offered for all Key Stages, allowing school visitors to explore Bristol’s amazing local history, develop STEM skills and discover the possibilities of a career in engineering.