Society of Bexhill Museums

Society of Bexhill Museums - July 4

ON Tuesday June 18, members and friends of the Museum went on an outing to the Battle of Britain Museum at the former RAF station at Hawkinge, Kent. In the hangars there is a most important collection in the country of artefacts from the Battle on show, with the Museum being run by volunteers and supported in the way of money and funds only by public donations. It seems a shame that such an important part of our heritage receives nothing from Government subsidy.

On show were aircraft, vehicles, weapons and relics from over 600 crashed aircraft, both British and German. What was very moving were the details and stories of the pilots of the individual aircraft - most of them only young boys straight from school or college.

After two hours, we moved on for a brief stop at the Battle of Britain memorial in its cliff top location at Capel Le Ferne. The Memorial was only opened in 1993 and the site is over the location where most of the Battle was fought. It was a very moving experience!

We then went on to Walmer Castle for the afternoon. The castle is the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, with past Wardens having been the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and the late Queen Mother, amongst others. After exploring the Castle, the weather was ideal for strolling through the lovely gardens, before a cream tea was enjoyed by all. We left for home at 5pm.