FEATURES Capel-le-Ferne in Kent
who served so valiantly. Famous names sit alongside the relatively unknown, together in peace as they were in war.
The full-sized replica Hurricane and Spitfi re remind visitors of the aircraft most associated with the Battle, while engravings on the Memorial Wall highlight the other machines involved, such as the Defi ant and the Blenheim.
The Wing, a new visitor centre that marks the latest step in the evolution of the Memorial site, was opened by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, in March 2015.
Built to refl ect the wingplan of a Spitfi re – including that immediately recognisable upward sweep – the building houses the Experience in one wing and a teaching area, the Geoffrey Page Centre, in the other.
The Geoffrey Page Centre, which refl ects the Trust’s commitment to making sure future generations understand the story of the Battle, is available for corporate use when not being used by schools.
The Wing also houses a well-stocked souvenir shop and a fi rst fl oor café with outstanding views across the Channel to France.
While new facilities have been added to the site over the years, for many visitors its primary attraction is the peace and tranquillity it offers to those who simply want to refl ect on the bravery and sacrifi ce of the men Churchill called “The Few” or to remember relatives and friends.
The site is free to visit, although there is a small charge for parking. The Scramble Experience is the only paid attraction and costs £6 for adults and £4 for children aged between fi ve and 16. There are concessions, with a family ticket costing just £16.50.
The Wing, the café and the car park are open daily from 10am to 5pm from
1st March to the end of September and from 10am till 4pm through the winter, with a short closure over Christmas (see the website for details).
The site itself can be accessed on foot at any time, 365 days of the year, and offers families who arrive early for their cross-Channel ferry somewhere to pass an hour or so and stretch their legs.
Hunting Lodge, which previous visitors may remember as the site’s original shop and café, is due to be revamped and expanded to provide a library and research area and will house an impressive collection of books and some items of memorabilia.
There is much more information at
www.battleofbritainmemorial.org
Lest We Forget.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Winter 2016
19
Images Credit Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.
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