Heritage centre will secure Biggin Hill’s place on the world stage


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THE chapel is a stunning memorial for the personnel of RAF Biggin Hill and its sector stations but it always fell short of telling the whole story of the airfield and its place on the stage of world history. The prospect of a real heritage centre has been on the cards since the 1980s, but it was the location which proved to be the devil in the detail. As the plans for a museum were being drawn up, the possibility of a better site and a better deal always seem to emerge, from the former sergeants’ mess, to a large motor transport garage, to the present site which has been set aside adjacent to Vincent Square and the Leavesden estate. There is a very healthy deposit


available in terms of funding which was set aside through what are called Section 106 planning agreements, where developers can offer funds for specific schemes like the heritage centre. This is where some confusion


exists. The money is held in escrow by Bromley Council – it is not being donated by the council, and therefore does not take badly needed cash away from other schemes or organisations. The centre will be delivered and managed


for the London Borough of Bromley by the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Trust, which is a registered charity, and which is chaired by Dennis Barkway CBE who was, for some 20 years, leader of Bromley Council. The trust has recently retained a firm of consultants to begin the process of raising the remaining money required and explore the possibility of making a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.


When the bulk of the funds are in place the building can begin, but the interior and the theme for the centre will be


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Things are really gathering momentum now. There seems to be a very real prospect of seeing this great enterprise come to fruition.


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The idea of opening a heritage centre at Biggin Hill goes back over 20 years and, according to Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Trust, was inspired by visitors to St George’s RAF Memorial Chapel in Main Road, who would ask: “Is this all there is?” Trust member Peter Osborne reports on the latest developments...


developed long before the foundation stone is laid. Primarily it will be a source of education, open to school parties and those who want to learn more about RAF Biggin Hill’s fascinating history – from the arrival of the first aircraft in January 1917; to the shooting down of a German Gotha bomber before the end of World War I; to the development of air to air radio communications, which were to prove so vital during World War II. Sir Henry Tizzard also used Biggin Hill to develop the use of the new science of RADAR to vector fighters on to enemy aircraft; then RAF Biggin Hill stood in the front line during the Battle of Britain. But its history didn’t stop there and a vibrant display of the most modern audio-visual equipment and exhibits from the time should tell this story to the full. Running in parallel to the trust is the


supporters’ club and this is by far the best way to keep in touch with what’s happening and with progress on this great project. The club raises money for the centre by staging events and already has over £30,000 on deposit to help buy important artefacts for the centre.


It also publishes a quarterly


magazine, organises talks, walks, a garden party and an annual dinner in October. Details are available on the internet at:


www.bhbobsc.org.uk, where you can also find out how to join and/or get involved. Things are really gathering momentum now with the new


Mayor of Bromley, Councillor David McBride, making the heritage centre his charity for the mayoral year, and the drive for funds beginning. At last there seems to be a very real prospect of seeing


this great enterprise come to fruition and for Biggin Hill to get the heritage centre it so badly deserves, which will firmly place it on the world historical stage.


Essentially Biggin Hill • Summer 2011 • To advertise, call Tracy on 01959 564766 Ext.103


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