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Dambuster Tour You can experience one of WW2’s most
legendary missions with the Dambusters Virtual Reality Experience at the RAF Museum. The BT has organised a coach tour visit to this amazing new exhibit on 13 November and it includes a guided tour of the museum, coffee and biscuits on arrival and lunch. There will also be two other exhibitions to see, which are Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and the First World War in the Air. There are 30 places on this tour and the price is £55 per Member or £60 per guest. Children must be aged 13 or over. The coach will leave Brooklands at 8am and return at 7pm. The Dambusters exhibition may not be suitable for some medical conditions, so please check the RAF Museum’s conditions before booking. Contact Angela Hume on: 07884 184882 or
angela.humeuk@
gmail.com
Kent and East Sussex Railway visit
Maurice Jones 1932-2019
Born in London in 1932, Maurice was evacuated to Buckinghamshire during the Blitz but soon returned home with minor injuries from an enemy bomb. He had another narrow escape when a V-1 flying bomb exploded near where he was delivering newspapers in Fulham in 1944. In 1946, he began his apprenticeship as a gas fitter and witnessing the 1948 London Olympics led to a lifelong involvement in sport. Initially an athlete then coaching and officiating, he became President of the Middlesex County Amateur Athletics Association in 1994.
During National Service from 1953-56, Maurice specialised in bomb disposal with 94 Maintenance Unit at RAF Honington. He then worked for the gas board in central London for more than 20 years. Retiring from British Gas in 1992, Maurice soon became a very active Museum volunteer and longstanding member of the Association of Friends (later Trust Members) committee. Besides restoring Barnes Wallis exhibits, he assisted with numerous other projects and activities, particularly aviation events. He also generously funded the purchases of both our Tallboy bomb and Thompson aircraft refueller and was often one of
the first volunteers to support major new acquisitions such as our Concorde and Vimy. Lapsing as an active volunteer around 2009, he stayed on the BTM committee until 2013 and later became a Life Member. In better health, he helped with recent fly-ins. Maurice died aged 87 on 25 June after a short illness and will be fondly remembered by all at Brooklands.
Julian Temple Mike Hawthorn Museum visit
Brooklands Members enjoyed a visit to the Kent and East Sussex Railway in July. The group travelled on the train, pulled by an 0-6-0 tank engine, from Bodiam to Tenterden with lunch served onboard. Arriving at Tenterden, the group divided into two, with one half visiting the CM Booth Collection and the others going to the Colonel Stephens Museum. The CM Booth Collection has a fascinating collection of Morgan cars and memorabilia. It still run by Mr Booth and well worth a visit. Warm and sunny weather blessed the trip and some took the chance to explore this village on the edge of The Weald. On the return train journey, ice cream, tea and coffee were served. All who attended the Kent and East Sussex trip would like to thank Angela Hume for all of her hard work organising an informative and relaxed visit.
Nigel Carter
Mike Hawthorn remains an enigmatic figure. On one hand an exceptionally talented driver, a dashing, bow-tied admirer of ladies and an entertaining autobiographer and children’s author. On the other, a tragic hero haunted by the death of friends and Frenchmen. A Le Mans winner for Jaguar in 1955, Hawthorn became Britain’s first Formula One World Champion only three months before his own death in a still unexplained accident. He was likely to have been terminally ill with kidney failure and was 29-years old. The Mike Hawthorn Museum has been personally curated by BT Member Nigel Webb in this complex champion’s memory. Based at a secret location, the museum is home to a significant collection of memorabilia and includes cars either driven by or of the type that Mike Hawthorn raced during his all too short career. Nigel has also amassed a collection of other Jaguars, some of which were on display. Entry to the
10 BROOKLANDS BULLETIN | SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2019
museum is strictly by invitation and it was a great privilege for BT Members to visit in July. We were made very welcome and well supplied with refreshments and snacks. We were also encouraged to bring picnics and enjoy the extensive grounds, which featured a pond replete with duck house and, naturally, a large silver Jaguar leaper. Jaguar drivers were also given priority parking. There is so much to see at the museum and its subject is so compelling that I am already looking forward to another opportunity to visit.
Patrick Hopkinson
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