I’m hoping that I will be able to take my elderly father to the September airshow to see both Lancasters. However he’s just had major orthopaedic surgery – a really major reconstruction job, not your common-or-garden hip replacement – and is likely to still be recovering, probably quite limited in his movement, and limited in the time he can sit/stand/move without pain. Neither he nor I have been to a big show at DX since the interminable queue to get out of one of the Spitfire Diamond Anniversary shows, so have no idea what the current situation with traffic management is like, but I have no desire to spend four hours stationary in a car again!
Has anyone else taken a disabled person to a big show there? If so, I’d love to hear from you whether publicly here or by private message.
It’s all a bit up in the air and vague at the moment as I don’t know whether he’ll be fit enough, whether there’ll still be tickets when I do know, etc etc etc, but any advice will be welcomed.
Many thanks,
Adrian
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th July 2014 at 19:05
I will say in the last 3 or 4 years Duxford really got the traffic control down, the disabled/airspace can only go left etc where most delays were caused by all traffic having to be stopped so a few cars could turn to the M11 so things are far better now.
Both going in and coming out are far better but you need to go early as I said to get a good place.
My friends dad loves Duxford as it denies him nothing in normal days or at shows as long as you don’t mind pushing him around (-:
I will say he was happy they reversed the no free carers policy as it is a lot of money for one day and he is a friend of Duxford as well.
Curlyboy
By: adrian_gray - 14th July 2014 at 10:26
Thanks everyone, that sounds really positive. Dad has a blue badge (which, of course, these days is transferable to any vehicle he is in – depending on whether he can get in my car or not!) so it sounds as though it shouldn’t be a problem.
I’m very impressed by the speed of exit, Curlyboy -I’ve not been back to a show after that hideous queue!
Now we just need him to be fit enough before it sells out… come on Dad, come on NHS!
Adrian
By: CADman - 13th July 2014 at 10:55
Agree with Curleyboy. Blue badge holders are well looked after at DX. However if your father is normally fit and well you may not have a blue badge and the staff might not allow access. Suggest you contact Duxford and arrange a special access. I understand that wheelchairs and electric scooters are also availalble for hire on the day should you require it, although advance booking may be recommended.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th July 2014 at 06:36
Me and my mate take his dad who is in a wheelchair to every show and we have not found anywhere he cannot go and the access is well thought out.
We were at flying Legends yesterday and the parking if you have a disabled badge put us right outside the front of airspace so we had easy access to the shop, restaurants and toilets.
Also yesterday we left about 20 minutes after the show ended (the worst time to go) and did not hit any real queues until we got to Royston and I think that was due to another accident and we were clear after about a 5 minute wait.
I would suggest when you go get there as early as you can and get a good space just go to the main entrance and display your badge and you get straight in.
Curlyboy
By: Sideslip - 13th July 2014 at 06:10
It might be worth contacting Duxford about that. If you told them the circumstances they might let you out at the staff entrance to avoid queuing. They might not but its worth a try.
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July 12, 2014 at 11:31 pm