LLA- the future?

Received the year’s first LLA journal today- a Dambusters 70th anniversary special- and it’s certainly by far the thickest and most colour-packed ‘Memorial Flight’ that I think I’ve seen yet!

Not a word within though of the recent politics…a mention that their admin business is going to be sent out separately, but not a single word about Stuart Stephenson, after all he’s done? Hmm.

Coincidentally (or not?) the BBMF Club launches tomorrow-

http://www.memorialflightclub.com/#

My LLA membership renewal has just come through and my cheque will be going off in the post this evening. 🙂

What already seems to be a potentially confusing situation, could become even more so with the new RAFM ‘Lancaster’ and ‘Lightning’ membership packages that I was emailed about yesterday!

I received a letter from the LLA Council of management this morning responding (rather huffily I felt) to the recent criticisms online following their announcement to withdraw support for the BBMF.

They point out that as a charity, they have never funded the BBMF- this is done via the tax payer. I think most people already realise this, and would also have been aware of the support they DO give- i.e, paying for things for the Lanc, making a big contribution to the new Spit’s wings, digitising the old manuals some years ago, etc.

The letter basically ends by saying that they’ll carry on with this charity work if the membership thinks it worthwhile!

Personally, I don’t like the tone of the letter very much, especially when you remember how the remaining LLA management apparently turned on Stuart Stephenson the moment he had to leave; I don’t want to be a member of something that is only helping the BBMF grudgingly.

The management at the LLA decided to stop supporting the BBMF- then we have a public outcry, so they respond to that with a reluctant-sounding U-turn?! Not convinced.

Got my membership renewal back today- wasn’t overly impressed that they are still using the ‘supporting the BBMF’ stationery. Hope this BBMF Club gets launched soon, so I can continue supporting the Flight- I shan’t be continuing with the LLA if they maintain this new stance.

All the guides are indeed volunteers and the merchandise sold in the hanger is LLA stock too.

A lot of visitors think the shop is run by the LLA but this is run by the council.

I do not think there will be a shortage of guides as the ex-sevicemen/women enjoy what they do and will want to pass on their knowledge onto visitors. To be fair, the BBMF crews are always ready and willing to be of help to anyone asking questions too.

Happy to be proved wrong then

Not that I’ve heard of. All the guides are volunteers some ex-BBMF crew but I don’t think they are supplied by the LLA.

Doesn’t the LLA supply the guides for the BBMF hangar tours?

Will the change in direction for the LLA mean that these tours will cease – or will they be continued under new management?

As a member of the LLA I suspect that the question of support for the BBMF will be raised at ‘the most important meeting in the associations history’ Perhaps its future too. As I live more than 200 miles away I expect I’ll find out afterwards. 🙁
mmitch.

Do read the note – the chairman of the LLA retired, after which the remaining committee decided to withdraw their support.

However, that is one persons position; we dont know all the facts, so lets avoid too much speculation that could be damaging to all concerned.

Bruce

Just as an observation – these ate the BBMF stats for their Facebook page today : “13,764 likes · 2,639 talking about this”

This is the type of footprint the BBMF need if they are to continue to occupy a place in the nations thoughts for future generations and be agile enough to take on fresh ideas via things like social media.

With ever increasing pressure to curb government spending and for Whitehall to “think the unthinkable” – the BBMF have to be ready to face what ever challenges are thrown at them.

Could they end up being operated like the RN Historic Flight as a separate organization ?

Can they justify having all those Spitfires ?

Whatever the future brings – times are likely to become more challenging – not less.

I applaud the LLA for all they’ve done to assist the BBMF thus far and at the same time I think I can see why the BBMF now feel it’s time to stand alone and reshape how they are perceived by the general public.

Just my 50 pence worth ….. 🙂

As an aside, it makes me wonder that if ‘Just Jane’ ever returned to the air this would not go unnoticed by any future government and could put the BBMF under scrutiny.
“Do we need 2 flying Lancs?” They would most likely say in Whitehall.

Back on thread, I am genuinely saddened to see how the LLA chairman has been treated.

It is my personal view that people (myself included) should perhaps reserve final judgement on both parties until all of the facts are put into proper context and the real ‘timelines’ for events are known!

This story get worse. So when the Chairman of LLA is seriously ill and incapacitated (get well soon Stuart), the LLA committee decide, with out consulting him, to withdraw support to BBMF. Further, the LLA members (of which i am one) were not consulted about this decision. BBMF having decided to set up a competing supporters “club” after many years of support by LLA, a decision which I still believe is a kick in the teeth of LLA. No wonder Stuart decided to resign. Kind of think, “a plague on both your houses “.

Just as an observation – these ate the BBMF stats for their Facebook page today : “13,764 likes • 2,639 talking about this”

Stats can be read how you want to read them, I think in the above 13,764 likes and – 2,639 talking about this, just because you like or follow something does not mean you will be paying to belong to their club.

For a club that will be going live in the next couple of weeks, there is not much infomation of how it will be run and how the money will be spent, until we are given this we can only assume things.

In the message from Stuart Stephenson, MBE it is clear he is not happy with the way LLA has handled things and I thank him for being honest and up front.
I hope Stuart you make a speedy recovery.

Until there are full explanations from both parties of their future intentions, we can only speculate which is a recipe for disaster especially in this forum!

Grateful for the statement from Mr Stephenson- it must be so sad for him that the LLA went the way it did the moment he retired. Thank you Mr Stephenson for all you have done- Lest We Forget.

Just as an observation – these ate the BBMF stats for their Facebook page today : “13,764 likes · 2,639 talking about this”

This is the type of footprint the BBMF need if they are to continue to occupy a place in the nations thoughts for future generations and be agile enough to take on fresh ideas via things like social media.

With ever increasing pressure to curb government spending and for Whitehall to “think the unthinkable” – the BBMF have to be ready to face what ever challenges are thrown at them.

Could they end up being operated like the RN Historic Flight as a separate organization ?

Can they justify having all those Spitfires ?

Whatever the future brings – times are likely to become more challenging – not less.

I applaud the LLA for all they’ve done to assist the BBMF thus far and at the same time I think I can see why the BBMF now feel it’s time to stand alone and reshape how they are perceived by the general public.

Just my 50 pence worth ….. 🙂

Interesting.

I know Stuart very well and wish him all the best.

Message from Stuart Stephenson:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/news/index.cfm?storyid=4F7A7D9C-5056-A318-A85028ABF3E43BEA

Did we not go down this route some years back when several ex-BBMF members, myself included and others, were encouraged to join in, at a cost of course. It did not survive it’s first engine start!

I await with interest.

I presume that no membership information will be passed from the LLA to the new ‘set-up’, as I believe that this would be against the Data Protection Act. So surly they’ll be starting from the bottom-up, rather than building on the existing 6,000 base.

That’s a fair point I suppose it depends on what aims are and how quickly they can build the ‘club’