Yesterday a news release was circulated confirming that the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire partnership is set to continue. Here is a copy of the news release text:
“Aviation project continues to fly high
Lincolnshire County Council has stepped forward to take on the running of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL).
For the past three years AHL has been promoting the county’s aviation history across Lincolnshire and beyond. However, its grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund comes to an end in Spring 2013. Now, the county council has agreed to continue the good work.
Cllr Eddy Poll, Executive Member for Cultural Services, said:
“Aviation is an important part of the Lincolnshire story. We have a number of aviation heritage sites across the county, which last year attracted 115,000 visitors, providing a valuable boost to our tourism economy. And this doesn’t even include those visiting the Waddington Air Show. We didn’t want to see all that good work come to an end.”
The idea for an integrated approach to aviation heritage was put forward by North Kesteven District Council in 2004. This led to the formation of AHL with Lincolnshire County Council, East and West Lindsey district councils, Visit Lincolnshire, Business Link, Renaissance East Midlands, Visitor Sites, Volunteer groups and the RAF. The county council will maintain this steering-group structure as it moves forward.
Cllr Marion Brighton, OBE, Leader of North Kesteven District Council, said:
“We are very proud to have hosted the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire project over the past three years and supported its development and growth. Tourism is a key contributor to the entire Lincolnshire economy, and especially so in North Kesteven where visitors contribute around £89m a year to the District economy, supporting around 1,600 jobs. Aviation tourism is a major part of this and it is therefore essential that together the partners continue to promote aviation heritage as we have been doing up to now through the Lottery funding.”
Emma Sayer, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said: “We at HLF are delighted that the wonderful work that has taken place with our support is set to continue into the future. The story of aviation is an important part of Lincolnshire’s heritage, and thanks this project more visitors from near and far have been able to explore and enjoy learning about this fascinating history. We wish the team at AHL the very best of luck for the future.”
Tim Downing, Chairman of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, said:
“Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire has played a major role in Lincolnshire’s tourism industry and economy over the last 3 years and now with the support of Lincolnshire County Council we are extremely excited about the future and continuing to promote the rich heritage our wonderful county has to offer.”
2012 is Lincolnshire’s ‘Year of Aviation’ with a whole series of events planned throughout the year, covering a century of aviation. For further information on the work of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, please visit http://www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com .”
By: TwinOtter23 - 20th December 2012 at 14:57
Another news release from AHL is doing the rounds today; it includes some fresh contact details for post-Christmas!
“Lincolnshire’s Aviation Oral History Stories
Commencing on Thursday 17th January 2013, visitors are being invited to arrange to attend the Lincolnshire Archives to listen to the county’s Aviation Oral History Stories.
These stories from World War II and the Cold War era have been recorded as part of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) “Shouting The Odds” project. These oral histories were 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).
Funding from AHL has purchased new sets of listening equipment, which will enable visitors to the Lincolnshire Archives to hear the fascinating stories that detail the county’s diverse aviation heritage. Some of the stories can also be accessed via the Oral History tab on the AHL website at www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com
The Lincolnshire Archives are located on St. Rumbold Street in Lincoln; and it is suggested that anyone wishing to visit the Archives telephones 01522 782040 to book in advance of their visit, which should avoid disappointment with availability of the recordings.
A new oral history focus for the AHL team will be in the post-World War II era of the Cold War, with the V-Bomber squadrons of the V-Force, plus the Thor and Bloodhound missile crews. This latest work will include the following Lincolnshire bases:
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.
From 7th January 2013, members of the AHL team will themselves be located at the Lincolnshire Archives, St. Rumbold Street, Lincoln LN2 5AB. Form this time their new email addresses will be:
phil.bonner(AT)lincolnshire.gov.uk
dave.harrigan(AT)lincolnshire.gov.uk
The new landline numbers will be issued in the New Year.
Website: www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com
Twitter: @aviationlincs ”
By: TwinOtter23 - 28th November 2012 at 16:13
A bit of a round up about AHL past and future can be found in the news release about last week’s conference at Hemswell Court.
“Reflective Autumn Conference highlights the future of AHL
More than eighty (80) delegates attended Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) 2012 Autumn Conference that was held at the delightful Hemswell Court on Tuesday 20th November.
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; special presentations were made to personnel from North Kesteven District Council who had initiated the steering group for the project in 2004 and hosted the AHL staff for the last two years.
The keynote speaker for the conference was the Chief Executive of VisitEngland, James Berresford. James whose early career was in tourism in the East Midlands provided details of VisitEngland’s role as the official tourism body for England, which is working in partnership with government and industry to grow the value of the visitor economy at all levels.
During his presentation James made the following comments about AHL. “Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire has been instrumental in joining up the dots in the county’s aviation offering, which has been a magnificent achievement.” He concluded by encouraging the AHL partnership to greater heights by saying, “Please make sure that you pass on your visitors to other venues in the county and make sure that you highlight to your visitors the unique qualities of the Lincolnshire aviation experience.”
After lunch a short presentation was given by the Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), Tony McArdle about why LCC had decided to support the continuation of AHL by hosting the team for the next three years. This was followed by presentations by Phil Bonner and Dave Harrigan about AHL’s future aims and activities. This included providing the delegates with details about the new funding for education projects that AHL has received from Arts Council England through the Museums and schools programme. {This is explained in more detail in this weblink on the AHL website www.ahleducation.org.uk/frequently_asked_qestions.html }
Delegates were then provided with details of the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Appeal www.lincsbombercommandmemorial.com by AVM Paul Robinson. The appeal aims to erect a memorial on the top of Canwick Hill, in Lincoln. The site overlooks Lincoln Cathedral which was a major landmark for crews leaving Lincolnshire and as a navigation point for those lucky enough to return.
The culmination of the day’s proceedings was an enlightening and thought provoking presentation by Tim Wallis from the RAF Museum Conservation Centre at Cosford, about their Hampden Project. The subject matter was particularly poignant as Hampden bombers had been the mainstay of Bomber Command operations out of Lincolnshire during the early stages of World War II and the type had operated from the former RAF Hemswell airfield, where the conference was being held.”
By: TwinOtter23 - 30th August 2012 at 21:00
Sorry I missed your reply Jim – when I looked last week Thorpe Camp was also surrounded by fields of produce; as is much of Lincolnshire!:diablo:
Nevertheless the museum is still well worth a visit!! 🙂
By: Lincoln 7 - 25th August 2012 at 09:42
Twin Otter 23.
Having visited the museum, may I aslso say congratulations, the hard work caried out there has paid off.
It’s a refreshinng change to visit there, when I am surrounded by field upon field of Carrots, spuds, and sugarbeet.
Hope to see you soon.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th August 2012 at 23:31
I’d heard a few whispers about your project and I’m pleased that they’ve been able to help.
In my view the more that the whole aviation sector pulls together then the better it is for raising everyone’s aviation profile to the general public!
I was at the AHL leaflet swap last night at Thorpe Camp and I must say how impressed I was with how the team down there has moved forward – another little gem!! 🙂
By: austernj673 - 24th August 2012 at 21:32
I’m certainly indebted to them for their support towards my project to restore the Metheringham tower. Would be nice to see other Counties follow their success.
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th August 2012 at 19:31
🙂 Good news indeed for everyone involved and it reflects a lot of hard work – I understand that there may be some exciting new initiatives in the pipeline as well!! 😉
By: austernj673 - 24th August 2012 at 11:54
Thats great news, Phil, Dave and the team do a great job 🙂
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August 24, 2012 at 10:20 am