The RAF museum’s ambitious plans for an anniversary makeover have been given the go-ahead with a multi-million pound grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
With visits from Prince Edward, the duke of Kent, and Barnet’s London Assembly member Andrew Dismore, anticipation for the Hendon site’s “exciting” renewal is high.
The £4,595,600 awarded will pay for the next phase of the museum’s centenary programme to commemorate 100 years of the Royal Air Force in 2018.
Two planned exhibitions will explore the first 100 years of the RAF through the stories of the people involved and invite visitors to imagine its future contribution and technology.
CEO of the museum Maggie Appleton said: “The story of the RAF is one of bravery, ingenuity and dedication which echoes within all our lives and will endure and enrich future generations.
“We are very excited to be given the opportunity to tell this story through the Museum’s collections and the voices of the individual men and women who served in the RAF and whose lives have been influenced by it.”
A newly-designed visitor centre will be established with café, shop, restaurant and flexible-use spaces as well as a new learning programme to encourage young people to take up science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers.
New apprenticeships and volunteering activities will be run to help the museum conserve and display the 1.3 million objects in its collection.
The museum was visited by the duke of Kent on October 20, where he expressed his enthusiasm for the plans.
AM Dismore also visited recently, expressing his pleasure the new exhibitions would also put focus on non-flying and ground staff within the RAF.
He said: “These plans are a very welcome improvement to the museum, and I hope will mark a successful centenary year for the RAF.
“I have always pushed for more of an emphasis on the ground crew and other non-flying personnel too, as they are an integral part of the RAF story, and their contribution must never be forgotten.”
“The RAF Museum is a matter of pride in Barnet, and more specifically Hendon, so it’s good to see the museum take their part in the community seriously.”
The museum will also be starting a project called ‘RAF Stories’ where people can contribute the experiences they or their family have had with the RAF.
Further planned phases of the centenary programme will tell the stories of the London Aerodrome and RAF Hendon - from which the first airmail, parachute jump, night flight and aerial defence of a city took place.
Are you excited about the new-look museum? Tell us about your RAF and museum memories in the comments below.
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