The Demise of Boulton Paul

I think Blackburn is covered by Yorkshire Air Museum – they certainly had a lot of artefacts from there.

DH Museum covers some Airspeed stuff, but a lot is held at the library at Portsmouth I believe.

Bruce

I have had no apologies for the damage that has been done, from the people who run the museum, nor any offers of compensation for the damage done whilst it was in their care.

Perhaps there is a salutary tale here, namely that if you are going to loan something of value to anyone – be it a museum or another body – make sure, before releasing the item, that you have agreed the terms of the loan, and liability for any damage, and that the agreement is recorded in writing and signed. Perhaps also you should satisfy yourself that your item will be adequately insured by the recipient (and demand documentary confirmation of this and of renewals of the policy) and/or, if the museum is a corporate body, that you have a surety for the loan. I know that it may seem hard, particularly when many museums are feeling the pinch in the difficult economic climate, but if you’re not content with the terms the recipient is prepared to agree, maybe it’s better simply not to make the loan. Walking away from a loan is better than having to ‘cry over spilt milk’ if and when things go pear shaped.

A couple of months ago I received an offer to purchase my ANEC IV repro fuselage, that is on loan to the museum, I assumed the person who offered to buy it was doing so on behalf of the museum. He offered me next to nothing for it, he basically said that he would take it off my hands, as it wasn’t worth much, due to serious water damage etc that had occured whilst it was on loan to the museum, this came as a bit of a shock to me, as it was the first I had been told about the damage, he also told me that I would have to find a new home for it if I decided that I wanted to keep it, as the museum was now only going to display items made by B&P, & by companies in the local area. I don’t have a problem rehousing the Missel Thrush as such, but what I do have a problem with is the cost of hiring a company who are quallified to survey the fuselage & tell me what the extent of the damage is, & how much it will cost to repair “assuming that it is ecconomical to do so”. I have had no apologies for the damage that has been done, from the people who run the museum, nor any offers of compensation for the damage done whilst it was in their care.
I have been told by a solicitor that I shouldn’t move the fuselage until I have had the survey done.

I don’t know how the rest of you would feel in the same circumstances, but to say that I am p1553d off would be an understatement.

Whilst I don’t want to make the museums problems any worse, I am not prepared to just accept the damage & pay for the repairs etc out of my pocket.

Bob. T

We werent awfully impressed when one of their members visited us and asked about an item on loan to us (a helpful museum member gave him the owners tel number as he was interested ‘for research’) said person promptly offered to buy the item from the owner under our nose and it was gone shortly afterwards.

Shame to see them in trouble though

I am a member of the BPA and helped build the rear fuselage of the Defiant, this is first ive heard of closure but to be honest its no surprise reading the news letters.

I would suggest that all the active members are local to Wolverhampton and ex employees and are getting on now

Whilst on the face of it, moving the BP collection to Norwich sounds attractive, but I would think that most of the knowledgable volunteers and ex employees are from the Wolverhampton area with all the problems that would bring for continuity. Wouldn’t Cosford be a viable alternative?

John

A real shame, they had a fantastic set up – the Defiant reproduction was great, and the Overstrand forward fuselage in progress was too

You will not see the AN-2, the Govier or any of the Slingsby gliders except the Tutor, as they have all long gone.

You will see these exhibits.

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/museums/boulton-paul-aircraft-heritage-project.htm