Hello everyone,
Please find exerts of our new press release. Thanks to everyone who is supporting our project.
SEVEN YEAR DREAM BECOMING A REALITY
A Bomber Command Heritage Living History Site, Education Centre, Museum, International Visitor Attraction and Memorial is planned to open at the former RAF Bicester.
Backing received to acquire former RAF Bicester aerodrome to create a world-class heritage centre and International visitor attraction.
It has been a long seven-year journey for Bomber Command Heritage (BCH) who has finally received the opportunity and backing to acquire the former RAF Bicester aerodrome in Oxfordshire, and restore this best surviving example of an RAF Bomber Station. This will create a unique Bomber Command Heritage site, Education Centre, Museum, and world-class International visitor attraction. The site has been finally put up for sale recently by the MoD, bids have been submitted, and now BCH along with other rival bidders, await the MoD's decision.
Cherwell District and Oxford County Councils have stepped forward to ensure the project is delivered. Located in the heart of the Oxfordshire tourist trail, Bicester Town already has some 4.5m visitors coming to its "Bicester Retail Village." However, BCH believes it can tap into an additional audience from all over the world and bring Bicester and the region the benefits of heritage tourism and employment opportunities by having a world-class visitor attraction on its doorstep. Sue Smith, Chief Executive of Cherwell and South Northants Councils said: "We have been working hard to transform Bicester for our residents. Together with the town redevelopment and planned housing growth, this proposal will not only preserve the heritage of the site and celebrate the lives of the fallen but also provide economic development benefits through providing jobs, engaging with local businesses and growing tourism."
Martin Tugwell, Oxford Council's Deputy Director for Growth and Infrastructure added: "The RAF Bicester site provides a huge opportunity as a cultural and geographical balance to Bicester (Retail) Village, which brings heritage, educational, tourism and leisure opportunities the town really needs. We support the BCH proposal and welcome the opportunity to ensure these outcomes are achieved."
The BCH team also includes Liam O'Connor, award-winning architect of the National RAF Bomber Command Memorial recently opened by The Queen in Green Park, London which was organised by RAF veterans, and the professional fund-raising team responsible for raising finance for a major part of that project. The heritage centre at Bicester is very much a logical next stage to the Bomber Command Memorial as it will explain the importance of the Memorial and the wider subject in a factual, yet engaging way, in a historic setting. The Bomber Command Memorial has become the fourth most popular visitor attraction in London.
Local MP Sir Tony Baldry has also been very supportive in Parliament and said: "I very much hope that Bomber Command Heritage will have the opportunity of acquiring this site from the MoD so that it can become a living museum, enabling future generations to have the best possible understanding of the contribution made by the RAF and by Bomber Command to winning the Second World War."
Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, AE, Rtd., 10-years Chairman of the Bomber Command Association, is currently BCA Vice President and BCH advisor. Tony is supporting Bomber Command Heritage Centre at Bicester. Tony was an air ace and Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain before transferring to the special elite 617 squadron (Dambusters) and flew 27 operations including all three against the German battleship Tirpitz. Tony then flew as a Captain with BOAC before joining Granada TV and advising on the launch of Eurodisney and enjoying a long and successful career in advertising and public relations,
Chairman of BCH, Dean Overton concluded: "Everybody gets very excited when the see a Lancaster bomber, but few realise the story and sacrifice that it represents, and the relevance in the 21st Century. I have never felt as confident as now that we will achieve our goal of opening the world's first museum and education centre, on a befitting scale, solely dedicated to all-aspects of the WWII story of Bomber Command and the civilian effort. Our bid is totally unique in that it satisfies the MoD in terms of returns for the taxpayer as well as providing a sustainable commercial / training environment for Cherwell - whilst delivering the ultimate Public benefit: open access for all. I guarantee there will not be a more attractive bid than ours on the table, and, despite those that said it can't be done, our dream is now becoming a reality"
