Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL)

HLF MONEY FOR LINCOLNSHIRE

See this thread on Key:

forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=89710

Looks like the HLF is well disposed to giving money for aviation heritage tourism/education, £436,000 in this case. Hope some can come the AiX/ARG Archive way.

Despite Visit Lincolnshire going to the wall it is very much business as usual for AHL. Phil Bonner is their Aviation Development Officer and sent the following in an email:

"As you will no doubt be aware, under current LCC cutbacks Visit Lincolnshire has been refused further funding and as a result was forced to seek administration.
This morning the staff were informed that VL is to cease operations and close as of 1600hrs this afternoon, Tuesday 22nd Feb 2011.

The knock-on effect of this closure is that we (AHL) will have to relocate to new premises within the next five days or so. That location will be at the Council offices of NKDC Sleaford.

In preparation for this we are currently planning to set up new e mail, phone and contact addresses which may cause some problems and disruption with communications over the next couple of weeks. However, a temporary e mailing system, which will be routed through the old visitlincolnshire address, is being created so that we can receive basic e mails on our personal accounts over the next couple of weeks.

Aside from this short-term period of disruption AHL, the project and partnership continues to run unchanged.
.

You will all be conscious of the fantastic effort VL has done in supporting and encouraging the nascent AHL in its first year. We cannot thank them enough for their efforts. Their work in creating the website, supporting and promoting our product at regional and national level and helping us develop our partnership with good advice and solid commitment cannot be overstated.

As you will, we hope, appreciate we are presently having to react to events but we will keep everybody fully informed as to what is taking place.

Regards

Dave and Phil"

TAKE FLIGHT

Exciting new Teachers’ Pack education resources for aviation

A new school year is always an exciting time and this year is no exception. This is thanks to the new TAKE FLIGHT education resources that are now available via the Schools & Education Link on the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

TAKE FLIGHT is designed to highlight Lincolnshire's aviation heritage to young people across the county and throughout the UK; encouraging school visits to the county’s venues and providing direct access to a host of new educational resources.

The TAKE FLIGHT education package is believed to be the largest ever single release of aviation based education activities and resources to the UK’s education sector; covering nine venues in the unique AHL partnership.

The main themes for TAKE FLIGHT are: Science of Aviation; The Home Front and Bomber Command. Each venue has bespoke resources for use with young people at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3; plus extensive Teacher’s Notes and details about how to plan a visit to the venue. As an added bonus each venue has Loans Boxes and Object Handling activities designed to support and enhance any educational visit, which are available for free utilisation if booked in advance.

AHL is funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000 and AHL’s remit is to work with various venues to raise the profile of aviation heritage in the county, and promote aviation within schools and colleges. TAKE FLIGHT focuses on Science, History, English, Art & Design and ICT; and features embedded literacy and numeracy activities.

“We are really excited to have launched the TAKE FLIGHT education resource section of the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire website at the start of the 2011 autumn term,” commented Dave Harrigan AHL’s Outreach and Learning Officer, he continued. “A lot of hard work, in-depth research and planning has gone into the project and we are convinced that TAKE FLIGHT will open up Lincolnshire's aviation heritage to young people across both the county and around Great Britain.”

He concluded, “There are many different sections for teachers and young people to explore and we hope that everyone will take the opportunity to look through the site and see how inspirational aviation can be as education topic!”

Sue Fitzsimmons, Head of Access & Learning Development at the Royal Air Force Museum also made the following observation, “Take Flight is an extremely comprehensive package of resources showing the wide variety of learning opportunities available in Lincolnshire’s Aviation Museums’”

September 2011

For further details please contact:
Dave Harrigan MBE
Outreach and Learning Officer
Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire
Tel: 01529 308135
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TAKE FLIGHT resources are available at the following aviation sites in Lincolnshire:
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre
Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre
RAF Digby Sector Operations Room
Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre
RAF Scampton Historical Museum
Thorpe Camp Visitors Centre
RAF Wickenby Memorial Museum
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
RAF Waddington Heritage Centre

Received from Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions

Autumn Conference Highlights The Way Ahead

More than seventy (70) delegates attended Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) 2011 Autumn Conference that was held at Hemswell Court on Thursday 29th September. The venue for the conference was highly appropriate as it was the Officers Mess at the former Hemswell RAF base.

Following a brief review of AHL’s recent achievements presented by the Aviation Development Officer, Phil Bonner and the Outreach and Learning Officer, Dave Harrigan; delegates were given an overview of AHL’s exciting new education resource TAKE FLIGHT.

Karen France from Innovate Educate provided an insight into the diverse range of resources that form a central part of TAKE FLIGHT, which is one of the key programmes that are funded by AHL’s Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000. TAKE FLIGHT is designed to highlight Lincolnshire's aviation heritage to young people across the county and throughout the UK; encouraging school visits to the county’s venues and providing direct access to a host of new educational resources.

A variety of speakers provided delegates with updates on several projects and initiatives that will assist with the continued growth of Lincolnshire’s aviation venues. As AHL moves into 2012 it will provide fund raising support for the Wickenby based charity, Flights For Life. Co-organiser of the charity Terry Rumble provided a moving insight into the charity’s activities, which provides “sick and seriously ill children with the unique experience of flying in a vintage aircraft.”

Delegates were also provided with details of Lincolnshire’s 2012 Year of Aviation; a programme of events that will feature ten (10) themed aviation events and activities across the county next year.

The culmination of the day’s proceedings was an encouraging and thought provoking keynote address by Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye OBE, the Director General of the RAF Museum. The Air Vice-Marshal who was stationed at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire for three years raised several points in his address that mirrored the aims of AHL. In particular he stressed the need to “Engage, consult and collaborate” and highlighted that “museums and aviation venues provided an important bridge to help explain and interpret history and peoples shared experiences!”

Phil Bonner, AHL’s Aviation Development Officer made the following observation about the conference, “I would like to thank all of our speakers for providing some thought provoking input for the delegates.” He concluded. “I’m sure that the delegates left the conference with a renewed desire to provide visitors to Lincolnshire with the opportunity to discover the thrill and excitement of aviation past and present”

Assistance Required – V-Force in Lincolnshire

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) is seeking assistance to help establish contact with former V-Force personnel who served in Lincolnshire in the early 1960s and then again in the early 1980s.

The recording of oral histories is a significant part of AHL’s remit for their aviation heritage programme, which is funded by an award of £436,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Several interviews from the World War II era have already been recorded as part of the “Shouting The Odds” project, with some being available via links from their website www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

The AHL team is now moving their attention to the post World War II era of the Cold War and the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan crews of the V-Bomber squadrons of the V-Force.

2012 will be the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the RAF’s V-Force and in October next year it will be 50 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis. 2012 will also mark 30 years since the Falklands Campaign, where a massive force of Victor tankers supported the Vulcan bombers from Lincolnshire with their Black Buck missions.

AHL officers are currently planning to run some Cuban Missile Crisis themed events in Oct 2012 and are trying to identify V-Force (Thor and Bloodhound) personnel who were serving in Lincolnshire at the time, who would be willing to assist with these activities. AHL officers are also trying to identify V-Force, Thor and Bloodhound personnel from this time to see if they are willing to record their 'Cold War' oral histories.

Lincolnshire’s bases that were involved in these operations include:

RAF Coningsby
RAF Scampton
RAF Waddington
RAF Hemswell
RAF Coleby Grange
RAF Bardney
RAF Caistor
RAF Ludford Magna
RAF Dunholme Lodge
RAF North Coates
RAF Woodhall Spa
RAF Barkston Heath.

In addition they are also hoping to capture V-Force Falklands Campaign oral histories, mainly connected with operations from RAF Waddington in 1982.

Anyone willing to assist the AHL officers in these matters is requested to make contact with:
Phil Bonner: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for the Cuban Missile Crisis themed events)
David Harrigan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for the Cold War & V-Force Falklands Campaign oral histories)
Or via post at: Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire PO BOX 3 Kesteven Street Sleaford Lincs NG34 7EF

2012 - Lincolnshire’s Year of Aviation

The AHL Team will be organising a series of events and talks at venues across Lincolnshire which will highlight the county’s diverse aviation heritage and history.

17th April 2012 – Augsburg Raid 70th Anniversary Talk
An evening talk by the aviation historian Robert Owen to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the RAF’s major daylight bombing raid on the MAN diesel factory in Augsburg, Southern Germany.
Venue: The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincs, LN10 6QG

16th May 2012 – Falklands Campaign 30th Anniversary
“Sailing With The Queen” An evening talk by Chief Pattisier Stephen Hallam about his exploits from pampering passengers luxuriously cruising around the world to suddenly being thrown into the cold and stark reality of the South Atlantic Campaign.
Venue: The Branston Hall Hotel, Branston, Lincoln, LN4 1PD

June 2012 – RFC Talk
Talk by aviation historian Andy Johnson about the formation of the Royal Flying Corps and its connections to Lincolnshire and early aviation.
Date and venue to be confirmed.

29th September 2012 – Tribute to the Eagle Squadrons Memorial Unveiling & Talk
Memorial unveiling at Kirton in Lindsey Town Hall, followed by a talk by Phil Bonner, Aviation Development Officer, AHL about the American Air Force Squadrons that were based at RAF Kirton in Lindsey during World War II.
Venue: The Town Hall, Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincs DN21 4LZ

14th to 28th October 2012 – Cuban Missile Crisis, Tour & Talks
A series of talks and events covering the period of the Cuban Missile Crisis which occurred 50 years ago that month; these will include a talk by aviation historian John Boyce and an escorted coach tour of several Cold War locations across Lincolnshire.

Advanced booking arrangements for each event will be posted on the AHL website approximately 3 months before the date of the event; proceeds from each event will go towards an event related service charity.

17th April 2012 – Augsburg Raid 70th Anniversary Talk

Seventy years ago on 17th April 1942 a daring low level daylight bombing raid was mounted by Bomber Command from squadrons based at the two Lincolnshire airfields of RAF Waddington and RAF Woodhall Spa. The target for the raid was the MAN diesel factory in Augsburg, Southern Germany.

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) is organising an evening talk by the aviation historian Robert Owen to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of this iconic raid at the Petwood Hotel at Woodhall Spa, which will start at 7.30pm.

The Augsburg Raid was mounted by a combined force of 12 Lancaster aircraft from 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington and 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa. Not only did the raid target a vital factory to the German U-Boat production programme but it also helped prove the viability of the Avro Lancaster as a main force Royal Air Force (RAF) bomber. These aspects of the raid will be explored by Rob Owen, who will also highlight the award of the Victoria Cross to the raid’s leader Squadron Leader John Nettleton; plus several other awards including DFCs, DFMs and a DSO.

Admission to the event will cost £5.00 per person, with proceeds being donated to the ‘Flights for Life’ charity. Tickets need to be booked in advance by contacting AHL via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephoning 01529 308135/ 01529 308172.

Venue:
The Petwood Hotel
Woodhall Spa
Lincs
LN10 6QG

Updates about the events being organised by AHL can be found on their website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com

Time Capsule 2012 Competition Launched

A central theme of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) business plan is innovative interaction with the schools, education establishments and voluntary-led young people groups across Lincolnshire. In previous years this has involved the Poetry Competition in 2010 and the Aviation Nose Art Competition in 2011. The winning entries from the 2011 competition are still being requested for display at specialist exhibitions across the region.

For 2012 the AHL Competition is based around Time Capsules and the competition will run from 1st March to 20th September, with all entries submitted and received for judging by 1st October 2012. AHL is funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000 and AHL’s remit is to work with various venues to raise the profile of aviation heritage in the county, and promote aviation within schools and colleges.

Time Capsule 2012 aims to encourage young people to explore and compile information on their particular local area’s aviation and associated airfields past or present - or if they wish they can research the county as a whole. This could be either in the form of one specific historic event e.g. the Dam Busters Raid, the Waddington International Airshow or it might cover a particular period, for example the Cold War. Any information or documents from the research undertaken can be recorded using text, photographs and artwork.

In addition, all entrants will also have the opportunity to record their class, school and current local environment information, for inclusion in a capsule. The competition meets with the National Curriculum criteria in English, History, Citizenship and Art subject areas.

Up to ten time capsules will be ordered for use in the competition and these will be registered with the relevant authorities and with Oglethorpe University in Georgia, USA – the international monitoring organisation for such capsules. AHL aims to secure entries from each District Council area of Lincolnshire. In some circumstances AHL may encourage ‘Lead Schools’ to include other material from their district; with the capsule being buried in agreed local areas, such as school grounds or have them housed in registered repositories. The capsules will have an embossed lid with the name of the district, school / association, the year laid down and the year to be opened.

The age range for the competition is from 5 to 18 years old. Entry is open to all schools, colleges and youth groups. Entry forms, including time capsule storage information, can be obtained from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephoning 01529 308137.

Additional Teachers’ Education information on the county’s aviation museums and historical sites can be found on the AHL website www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com under the homepage education banner.

“Time Capsule 2012 is another exciting opportunity for AHL to interact with Lincolnshire’s young people and also leave a lasting legacy for the AHL partnership.” Commented Dave Harrigan AHL’s Outreach and Learning Officer, he continued. “Entrants will also be able to use the extensive education resources from the TAKE FLIGHT link on our website, which is already proving very popular with schools across the county.”

He concluded, “We are very pleased to have been able to source the time capsules locally. They are being ordered from the Ridgequest foundry, a small family business based in the village of Croft, near Skegness, Lincs.”

New vid from AHL:

Received from Howard Heeley, Down To Earth Promotions

Spring Conference Highlights
Lincolnshire Home of Aviation

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) 2012 Spring Conference was held at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa on Tuesday 20th March. Attended by more than eighty (80) delegates, the conference gave attendees the chance to discuss a wide range of topics in the iconic setting of the former World War II RAF Officers Mess.

A brief review of AHL’s recent achievements was presented by the Aviation Development Officer, Phil Bonner and the Outreach and Learning Officer, Dave Harrigan, which highlighted the diversity of the groups that AHL has worked with. In addition to the acclaimed Aircraft Nose Art Competition and the TAKE FLIGHT education resource AHL has worked with: Sound Lincs; the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme; the Scouts; The Prince’s Trust; the Blind Society; and the charity Flights For Life.

This session closed with delegates being provided with details of Lincolnshire’s 2012 Year of Aviation; a programme of events that will feature ten (10) themed aviation events and activities across the county next year.

Amanda Turner of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) provided a brief overview of the successes that AHL has achieved so far through its HLF award of £436,000. She concluded with an outline of what type of projects the AHL was currently supporting and how AHL’s partner organisations may be able to apply for HLF funding. This was followed by a series of short testimonials from the partner organisations about how they have benefited from their involvement with AHL.

After lunch delegates heard about a new North Lincs Aviation Trail before celebrating the presentation of a framed aviation print to the 2011 winner of the Aviation Passport scheme to Richard Swiderski of Metheringham Fen. This was followed by an update about the 2012 Aviation Passport Scheme, which will be launched on Sunday 1st April 2012; and this year gives entrants the chance of winning two Taxy Rides of the Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ at East Kirkby.

The culmination of the day’s proceedings was a fast paced and amusing keynote address by Squadron Leader Stuart Reid, (RAF Rtd) the former ‘Bomber Leader’ with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at RAF Coningsby. During which it became apparent about the strong historical connections that many of the aircraft operated with the BBMF have with aviation sites across the county,

Phil Bonner, AHL’s Aviation Development Officer made the following comments about the days’ proceedings, “We were really pleased to be able to tell the delegates that in 2011the various sites in the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire partnership had generated an estimated tourism income of £1.50 million for the county of Lincolnshire.”

He concluded. “Looking forward we have a packed year of events in our Year of Aviation projects and we are really excited about the forthcoming launch of our ‘Counting Them Home’ portable interactive aviation display.”