The
International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) re-opens its doors on Tuesday, 21 July 2020 after an enforced closure of some 4½ months, due solely to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having only opened to the public in January 2018, the IBCC – which is a charity - was performing adequately against financial projections with a much higher footfall being experienced in the first year against anticipated numbers. Excellent public reaction and being rated “No 1 of 79 things to do in Lincoln” on Trip Advisor also helped.
Then came the pandemic.
The Centre has lost 90% of its income over the recent period, bookings for coach tours and ‘high income’ events for the summer period have had to be cancelled, of course; 70% of the IBCC’s bookings from re-opening to the end of November have also had to be cancelled because they involved groups (coaches, schools and hospitality). In sum, the IBCC has lost its main, summer, income stream and a coach and horses have been driven through the finance spreadsheets.
So, yes, this is a plea to all those aviation-minded people out there with an interest in history and heritage. Please now make the effort to visit the IBCC if you have ever entertained any thoughts of so doing in the past*. The IBCC needs the footfall and ‘customer spend’ to keep the memories of the 57,861 Bomber Command personnel remembered on the Walls of Names alive.
If you can’t visit in person, please find time to visit the website linked above and hopefully make a (gift aided!) donation directly; the donation of the cost of a couple of High Street coffees from everyone who frequents these boards would make a huge difference. Better still – do both!
The continued existence – let alone development - of this memorial commemorating the courage and steadfastness of those young men and women who gave everything for future generations really does need the support of everyone on here who appreciates their sacrifice.
*It is now necessary to book visits to comply with COVID-19 guidelines/restrictions – so do please read the guidance on the website fully.