Museum at Wickenby?

Sorry Cees,

I was only responding to “new museum at Wickenby”, it rang a bell that there was already something there.

I haven’t seen the existing museum, nor any of the 15 tons of missing Lanc (wish I had though!)

Bad form on someone’s part if they’ve offended the Dutch Air Force, and in so doing jeopardized other such donations. 🙁

Part of the Wickenby story was first around nearly a year ago…

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/oldstuff/2007/415lincs/lincs.htm

Where’s the almost fifteen tons of Lancaster that was recovered by the RNethAF near Amsterdam and was donated to Wickenby. Shortly after wreckage was advertised for same on a website (this one Alan?) The Dutch AF is still miffed at not having gotten their (Her Majesty’s) transport crates back.

The recently recovered Hampden wreckage will be donated to Scampton, not history repeating itself I hope

Cees

Bruce,
I cant speak for Gerry, but as you know, he is a good friend of mine, and we both have common interests, not least in the PT26!!!
The thing here is that this isn’t a museum that is going to depend on people going through the door, to make it function. I think it’s more about housing a private collection of vintage aircraft that people will be able to come a look at on a Sunday afternoon… A bit like the real aeroplane company at Breighton. I think thats a fair representation. The aircraft might be different, but I think the idea is similar.

Hi Bruce, (‘Bedsheet-Bomber’) etc………..:mad:

It was always cited – it’s remote location, when compared to Rochford station, plus Southend/Shoeburyness “seafront” (for want of a better-word:D ) was the major-factor in it’s closure……….(i.e. not sustainable re-punters thru the gates).

🙂

The problem at Southend was that it was remote from the main part of the airfield so it didn’t attract the public who visited the airport to “watch the aeroplanes.” In those days there was a sizeable contingent of Joe Public sitting on the airport viewing terrace with a pint totally unaware that 5 mins drive away they could actually get much closer to some (for the most part) far more interesting aeroplanes.
The local council weren’t much help either. They decided that the museum was a commercial venture. As such it did not qualify for the sign posting that a tourist attraction would be permitted to erect so they were only allowed 2 signposts. I think one was on the A127 at Kent Elms Corner and the other was probably on the corner of Aviation Way where the museum was sited.
It was possible to take several wrong turns between the two signs and I expect many potential punters got lost and went home never having found the museum.
One of my jobs when I worked full time in school holidays was to cycle to Shoeburyness and walk the entire length of Southend seafront pushing my bike and handing out flyers to anyone who would take one. It was the only way the museum stood a chance of getting any of the holidaymakers/trippers through the doors.

It was in echo last night 😉 😀

I’d love to volunteer, I don’t know a lot though lol so I doubt I’d be much use.

The last time I was at Wickenby I was about 10 and my dad was meant to be giong to take some ariel photos of the woodland for Butterfly conservation but when we got there they told him I wasn’t alloud to go up with him 🙁 so I had to sit in the control tower for a couple of hours lol a very nice lady made me some orange squash and gave me some chocolate digestives lol 😀
Funny the things you remember lol

Surely there’s already a (small) museum at Wickenby?

http://www.rafwmm.flyer.co.uk/

Hopefully, this latest plan will help secure it?

LOL – I assumed that you were actually in, err Horncastle (!!). Not concentrating this afternoon!

Not to worry!

Museums are a funny thing – you might be right, and it might do well where it is; its just not something I would consider. Unless there is a good established collection of stuff with which to populate a museum, its going to be very expensive to acquire. (Thanks Ebay!!)

I shall bow out before I make any more of a t!t of myself.

Bruce

That’s ok, easily misunderstood.

From Hornchurch (edge of base itself) to Hunstanton !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best move ever = Coningsby’s Euro-Typhoons & 48th’s F.15-‘E’s for an alarm-clock & a free airshow every day over my front-garden…….
With the occasional A-10./B-1 & even the odd B.2 every once in a while, along with local RSPB type-‘wings’ LOL.

Re; Wickenby, Presuming someone will have a photographic collection to display (?) as well as numerous memorobilia ???????

Countless have read the ‘Late’ Sqdn-Ldr Jack Currie’s books relating to his tour at Wickenby & I can imagine if reasonably well advertised, a SMALL museum could be run at a low-cost ?????????

Not been to the Metheringham one, but I’d imagine a small/similar concern with willing volunteers should ‘get-by’ ?????????

LOL – I assumed that you were actually in, err Horncastle (!!). Not concentrating this afternoon!

Not to worry!

Museums are a funny thing – you might be right, and it might do well where it is; its just not something I would consider. Unless there is a good established collection of stuff with which to populate a museum, its going to be very expensive to acquire. (Thanks Ebay!!)

I shall bow out before I make any more of a t!t of myself.

Bruce

Actually old chap, I live in Norfolk – I know all about back roads.

I spend a good portion of my time travelling from Norfolk to St Albans – not exactly back roads in themselves, but I do travel about a bit.

The point I am making is that your part of the country, lovely as it undoubtedly is, isnt madly busy. Will it support another aircraft museum – I dont know, but I do know I would think twice myself, as I have experience of such things.

Also – yes, of course we all use cars, but how many of our museums rely solely on enthusiasts for their trade?

As I said – ‘No offence’, so please dont take it as such

Bruce – No ‘i’

Hi Bruce, I’m still smiling here !

Er, you got the wrong-end of the stick, Geezer !!!!!!!!

I’m in Norfolk TOO (makes both of us !)

We share similar sentiments, as well as Geographical-Location.

I can remember ONLY TOO WELL……travelling on our M/cycles (me, Wife & few mates) on a warm sunny-day (circa ’82/’83) down to Rochford, to visit the Southend Aviation Museum (to which I’d been many times as a kid) only to find it closed………
Gutted wasn’t the word – & then, over the next few years, the dereliction & destruction of some of the airframes…….Lincoln, Beverley, & Mitchell (‘Bedsheet-Bomber’) etc………..:mad:

It was always cited – it’s remote location, when compared to Rochford station, plus Southend/Shoeburyness “seafront” (for want of a better-word:D ) was the major-factor in it’s closure……….(i.e. not sustainable re-punters thru the gates).

My part of Norfolk;) is truly-lovely, & swarming with foriegn-tourists, to Sandringham & Hunstanton & the like.

Yes, Wickenby is “off the beaten track” but a small-run museum like Metheringham can survive…….why not (the more famous) Wickenby ?

BTW Bruce, my initial post was tongue-in-cheek, so no-offence was ever taken:)

Actually old chap, I live in Norfolk – I know all about back roads.

I spend a good portion of my time travelling from Norfolk to St Albans – not exactly back roads in themselves, but I do travel about a bit.

The point I am making is that your part of the country, lovely as it undoubtedly is, isnt madly busy. Will it support another aircraft museum – I dont know, but I do know I would think twice myself, as I have experience of such things.

Also – yes, of course we all use cars, but how many of our museums rely solely on enthusiasts for their trade?

As I said – ‘No offence’, so please dont take it as such

Bruce – No ‘i’

Its Gerry Coopers collection – but I would note that unspoilt as Wickenby might be, its in the middle of nowhere, so passing trade might be an issue! Bruce

middle of nowhere? Its about 10 mins from the main road isnt it?

Agreed, but Lincolnshire is a bit like Norfolk – its not on the way to anywhere!

I mean no offence! Bruce

As a “Londoner” myself, I was going to point out to dear ‘Brucie’ that most of us, use petrol-driven ‘chariots’ to visit such “Hallowed” places (re; his ‘Post-No.2’)……… then he had me laughing even more😀 ………

Wickenby ? Remote ?

I’m a “resident” in one & local-vistor to another;) Norfolk/Lincolnshire !!!!!!!!!!!

You have to remember, Sadsack…. Brucie’s idea of “it’s about 10 mins from the main Rd” is the M.25 (to his Mosquito-Gaff:diablo: )

NOW THAT IS A MAIN Rd……….!!!!!!!!!!!!

(p.s. my Dad was based at Wickenby & I’ve taken him up there, after attending Waddington Airshow’s in the past (1990’s).

Got a cracking pic’ somewhere, of him sitting on top of a ‘Tallboy’ or ‘Grand-Slam’ (can’t remember which ?) whilst in the RAF , on Wickenby’s main runway, whilst he was with 93 M.U. in 1949

Keeps saying he want’s to go back, So, a museum would be a good incentive !

How about legendary paraslasher?

Adrian

I liked this bit of the article.

“It would put on display one of the best collections of old planes in the UK – offering visitors the chance to see legendary fighters such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane.”

Two sets of wings, struts, lots of wires….must make it a WW1 fighter surely:rolleyes:

Given the fact that (IIRC) some examples of Tigers were rigged to carry small bombs on anti-submarine or anti-personnel patrols in the early (and desperate) days of WW2, perhaps they should describe it as a legendary bomber???? 😀

Wickenby is also an active, licensed airfield so you could fly in 🙂

I liked this bit of the article.

“It would put on display one of the best collections of old planes in the UK – offering visitors the chance to see legendary fighters such as the de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane.”

middle of nowhere? Its about 10 mins from the main road isnt it?

Agreed, but Lincolnshire is a bit like Norfolk – its not on the way to anywhere!

I mean no offence!

Bruce

here you are:

http://www.thisisboston.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=204879&command=displayContent&sourceNode=204868&contentPK=19791776&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

re

How close are to Wickenby? I’m 20 mins bus ride away and then about 15 mins walk. I’d happily volunteer. I’m pretty keen to get some of my memrobilia and models displayed as I’m running out space at my parents house…

Good man… I’d like to see it!

Once the Cornell project gets to Wickeny, I’ll take some pictures for those people who were asking!