SAVE ex RAF BICESTER Technical Site and help promote support for a WWII-Themed Bomber Command Heritage Centre for the 21st Century!
Many Stories can be said in a few words. This one incorporates the following: Bicester, social history, history, remembrance, science & engineering, industrial heritage, and education!
In partnership with others BCH is willing to be part of a bid proposal for the ex RAF Bicester Technical Site that would see, at the very least, some of the Site preserved as a small museum dedicated to RAF Bomber Command of the WWII-period and its formative years, which would be focused purely on the British & Commonwealth effort and sacrifice. With a bit more vision, this could well eventually be turned into a major UK visitor attraction in the South, and would realise the full potential of the Site-allowing us to do justice to the full scale of the subject.
Being realistic BCH understands the economic forces at play and the reasons why all of the Site cannot be preserved “as is”. Naturally BCH would though wish to see as much as possible preserved, and the flying status of the Flying Field kept intact if at all possible. For information regarding our Campaign and to register your support immediately, please go to the following link (which you may have to paste into your browser) and sign the on-line petition!
http://www.bc-heritage.org/%5BCOLOR=Black%5Dbicester[/COLOR]
or our Main Site http://www.bc-heritage.org
Also letters of support would be much appreciated too!
Bomber Command Heritage
C/o 29 Eden Road
Gossops Green
Crawley
West Sussex
RH11 8LZ
Easy as one two and three!…And “Four” is to direct everyone to this forum so we can grow support for the BCH Campaign!
YES!! Everyone seems to be saving something these days, but to those sceptics out there, when its gone ITS GONE FOREVER!!! Hope we have not overstepped the mark with such a long post!
Best regards from all the team at Bomber Command Heritage.
Tony Whitfield
Secretary
BOMBER COMMAND HERITAGE
http://www.bc-heritage.org
“…our journey together.”
By: lotus72 - 8th July 2007 at 15:51
signed!
By: Denis - 8th July 2007 at 15:38
signed….Link added to my website for the petition.
By: bc_heritage - 7th July 2007 at 12:28
WE FIGHT ON!!!!!
Hello All!
Just a small update, after all it has been a while!
For those just visiting please pop over our website where we have an on-line petition:
The first half of 2007 has seen us presenting our museum proposal to local parish councils and supporting Windrushers with their efforts to keep former RAF Bicester as an active flying field.
We are trying our best to utilise local media in our Campaign and yesterday attended an outside broadcast from the former RAF aerodrome with Radio Oxford.
Good support from the local parish councils has been received. However we have to be cautious due to the fact that there have been at least two developments spoken of, one being quite close to the aerodrome boundary. We need as many letters in support of a Bomber Command museum on site, so please write to the address located on our website as soon as possible please.
We would very much like to hear anyone who has any recollections of life at RAF Bicester during wartime.
Let us not sit back and watch the Technical site collapse! If you are local to the aerodrome, and wish to see flying remain and would like to be more pro-active with such an important issue on your doorstep, please contact us via our website and we will be in touch!
Thanks again!
Tony
Secretary
BOMBER COMMAND HERITAGE
http://www.bc-heritage.org
“…our journey together.”
By: Whitley_Project - 20th November 2006 at 00:21
Yes, good luck tony and Martin!
By: bc_heritage - 18th November 2006 at 21:26
In The BCD interview with the local rag, they said “We would not rule out further colaboration with devolopers, if that was the only option.” Sorry, there are no options. The airfield stays as it is, an active flying airfield..
Yep, avro683, you are absolutely correct! That answer given during the interview for the article written by the Bicester Advertiser, is to simply state that we want to make sure the social history of the airfield does not disappear if re-development occured, or the whole site just abandoned to rot. We wish to make sure that at least the history is told in some way. This would require a museum, however small on site. I just want to add BCH is Pro-Aviation and wish to see the flying field remain active! Some of the BCH team either have ties to the RAF, (I myself am related to a Lanc Skipper) and others have been/are involved in the aviation industry, so would prefer for those aviation activities to continue! Bascially we like planes! 🙂
As you have mentioned Windrushers is still, and will continue to be active on the airfield which is great news. Windrushers have of course had a long affiliation with RAF Bicester. Please visit their site for more info and go book a few tows!
Basically we just want to help in whatever way we can to make sure the legacy of RAF Bicester survives, if that makes sense. Sorry, been a hard day!
Thanks.
Tony
Secretary
By: low'n'slow - 18th November 2006 at 18:21
In addition to gliders there are a smal number of vintage/classic aircraft based here, owned by members of the Windrushers gliding club.
The current headcount includes a Tiger Moth, Bucker Jungmann, Piper Cub, Miles Gemini, Zlin Trener, a pair of Pietenpols and a Pushpak.
We’re all appreciate that we’re very lucky to be able to fly these aeroplanes from one of the last ‘into-wind’ all-grass airfields to survive in Britain. Long may it continue!
By: avro683 - 18th November 2006 at 00:29
The enclosed photo is of the bomb dump at RAF Bicester. Mind you, the photo was taken twenty years ago, so I expect the rust has increased. This part of the airfield has been fenced off for some years. Two years ago, the people nearest the airfield took part in a referendum and 95% voted against
any development at the airfield. Cherwell District Council then changed their plans for re-developement there.
In The BCD interview with the local rag, they said “We would not rule out further colaboration with devolopers, if that was the only option.” Sorry, there are no options. The airfield stays as it is, an active flying airfield. Yes, the buildings need restoring to their former glory, but I am against any other development there. English Heritage stated that none of the present vistas from anywhere on the site should be altered, and I support that. Why should a developer be involved? I know of someone who offered a million pounds for the site and was turned down flat, by Defence Lands. They are being very greedy, considering the site was probably requisitioned for a pittance in 1918.
Apart from the local gliding club, www.windrushers.org.uk we do have visits by other aircraft. The Grace Spitfire spent a day here, during the summer, giving flights to people who had contributed to a charity. We get the odd Mustang and various other types. It would be great if they were based here, permanently. They would blend in with the surroundings very well.
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th November 2006 at 13:38
delightful airfield, excellent cause – keep up the good work!
Petition signed
TT
By: Phantom Phixer - 17th November 2006 at 13:38
Brilliant cause. Ive signed it and really is as easy as 1,2,3.
By: bc_heritage - 17th November 2006 at 13:19
We continue to forge ahead!
Hi All!
Just to let those of you that are interested we seem to have stirred up quite a bit of interest which is great for the RAF Bicester Campaign. Obvously many people out there suffer the “British Disease” that its not worth showing an interest in such a cause, but we have hardened up to that kind of attitude, and are getting some extremely good responses. At such a time of year, i.e Armistice Day, to think of those that trained at RAF Bicester, never to return, it is quite sad that people say there is “No History” to the site.
Please have a look at the press release that came out during the end of September.
http://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/misc/print.php?artid=938358
For those of you that have just popped in, if you have an interest in historic aviation, please go to the on-line petition that can be found on our website:
We are particularly looking for people that served there, especially during the WWII Period, or relatives that may wish to share stories.
I can also supply hard copies of our petition form to people who may wish to stick them up on the wall in thier local flying club, or to distribute amongst friends or relatives. No rude comments about where it could be placed either thank you!
From all the Team at BCH, thanks for posting to this thread.
More at a later date!
Best regards
Tony
Secretary
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd September 2006 at 07:03
It is a good cause, the MOD still have a presence but it is such a lovely airfield.
curlyboy
By: bc_heritage - 22nd September 2006 at 22:09
Hey Tony,’bout time you joined this forum 🙂
DEAR ALL!
Can I just say a very BIG THANKS to everyone who has been signing the petition from all corners of the World! FANTASTIC!! 😀 May it continue!
As Peter says we are a small group of like-minded enthusiasts doing what we can. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you we know who have posted to this forum, who have given us much support and advice in the past. Thanks for not placing us in the “Bonkers” category!
Love the photos Steve! Indeed, let ex RAF Bicester be a survivor!
Okay, until next time…..
From all the team.
Best regards
Tony
Secretary
BOMBER COMMAND HERITAGE
http://www.bc-heritage.org
“…our journey together.”
By: low'n'slow - 22nd September 2006 at 15:33
Good luck with this Martin & co. Bicester really is a unique survivor and deserves to be treated as such.
By: Peter - 22nd September 2006 at 14:58
Hey Tony,’bout time you joined this forum 🙂
This is a fantastic little group that has great potential and Bicester would allow them to spread their wings! I urge everyone to help them out with signing the petition. I did 😉
Tony, will send this to some more colleagues.
By: oag - 22nd September 2006 at 12:34
Also signed,& will send details of the link to other OAG members
Colin
Oxfordshire Aviation Group
www.communigate.co.uk/oxford/oag
Press & Sponsorship Officer
8th Abingdon Air & Country Show…6th May 2007
www.abingdonfayre.com
By: Arm Waver - 22nd September 2006 at 12:27
Duely done.
I wish them well in this project.
Some of our members have been fighting to save Bicester in the past, whilst others fly from there…
By: Steve Bond - 22nd September 2006 at 08:31
Yes, come on everybody. Bomber Command Heritage are a great bunch of guys, extremely well organised and with ambitious, but realistic, plans for the future. Bicester airfield is a time-capsule of an Expansion Period station and needs the support of as many people as possible.
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September 21, 2006 at 9:26 pm