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Norfolk museum set to close
Last updated: 28/08/2010 17:00:00
An award-winning Norfolk museum which for more than 15 years has helped tell the story of the nation's air defence has been forced to close suddenly after failing a fire safety inspection.
The RAF Air Defence Radar Museum received a letter on Thursday breaking the news, which museum manager Doug Robb described as “absolutely disastrous”.
The museum, which is housed on part of the former RAF Neatishead site near Horning, traces the history and development of air defence radar since its invention in 1935.
It has won several awards over the years, including the best small visitor attraction in England in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.
The news has come at a particularly poignant time as the country prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of a key Battle of Britain date - September 15, 1940 - the day the RAF was said to have secured victory in the home air battle.
“We had a fire inspection on Monday and the letter arrived on Thursday saying the situation was no longer acceptable,” said Mr Robb.
“We had no choice but to close.
“I am not sure what will happen now, the figure that needs to be spent on new fire exits and so on is probably around £40,000 to £50,000.
“We have had very good numbers visiting the museum all year which makes it all the more difficult.”
Mr Robb said he wanted people to know about the closure as soon as possible so potential visitors did not have a wasted journey.
Group visit organisers who have already arranged visits and paid deposits will be contacted by Mr Robb during the coming week.
Mr Robb said that he and the board of trustees would like to apologise to their loyal volunteers, friends and visitors.
“We hope that a reopening will be possible in the near future.”
The museum had opening days of Tuesdays, Thursdays and the second Saturday each month, as well as bank holiday Mondays and other days by arrangement.
As recently as February, staff and volunteers at the museum learnt they had a new benefactor in the shape of the Royal Air Force Fighter Control Association which adopted the museum as its charity for the year.
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Norfolk museum set to close - Norfolk News - EDP24
Air defence museum closes suddenly - Norfolk News - EDP24