St Georges chapel - RAF Biggin Hill
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Whisperair
I don't remember an artificial pitch in the hangars - I do remember an indoor 5-a-side pitch with a concrete floor (the hangar floor) where we used to play 'off the walls'. I've also played badminton, volleyball and indoor cricket in the hangar and cricket outside on the grass, ..........
Or is my memory playing tricks with me re: the artificial pitch ?
I used to live at Valley View BTW.................and like you have fond memories of Battle of Britain 'At Home' days and the early 'Biggin Hill Air Fair' displays. I can certainly remember the Low Flying Aircraft signs on the main road by the Salt Box Café - although jets had long gone by then...........
I have been to many services in the chapel and some of my friends have been married there. It's a very atmospheric place for me.
Arc
I don't remember an artificial pitch in the hangars - I do remember an indoor 5-a-side pitch with a concrete floor (the hangar floor) where we used to play 'off the walls'. I've also played badminton, volleyball and indoor cricket in the hangar and cricket outside on the grass, ..........
Or is my memory playing tricks with me re: the artificial pitch ?
I used to live at Valley View BTW.................and like you have fond memories of Battle of Britain 'At Home' days and the early 'Biggin Hill Air Fair' displays. I can certainly remember the Low Flying Aircraft signs on the main road by the Salt Box Café - although jets had long gone by then...........
I have been to many services in the chapel and some of my friends have been married there. It's a very atmospheric place for me.
Arc
As I recall, the 5-a-side pitch surface was rubberised not bare concrete. We weren't that hard - but we would never have let on to the Westerham boys, we had a reputation to uphold!
Sadly, along with jets, the 'Salt Box Cafe' was consigned to history some years back.
They were good times to live in Biggin. Many school-friends were RAF Brats and feelings in the village for our uniformed neighbours ran deep, which is why there is so much resentment locally to the Council's plans for St George's Chapel.
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Why on earth are they aiming for the project to be completed by for 11 Nov 18? The BoB Chapel has nothing to do with the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. They should be aiming for 15 Sep 20 if they want a significant date and a round number of years.
I think that Rita Radford and those wishing to preserve the dignity of the Chapel have been side-lined in an inexcusable fashion by know-nothing councilors pushing a half-arsed project.
I think that Rita Radford and those wishing to preserve the dignity of the Chapel have been side-lined in an inexcusable fashion by know-nothing councilors pushing a half-arsed project.
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St George's Chapel Update
On Thursday 31st August at 16:00, St George's Chapel was closed for visitors and the gates chained and padlocked. Relatives of veterans whose ashes lie within the Garden of Remembrance, are now unable to visit their last resting place.
Following the 'Battle of Britain' service on 17th September, demolition works and construction are due to begin, of what is described in Private Eye as a "mediocre, inappropriate and inadequate" structure, with which Bromley Council intend to scar this important site, as a poor excuse for a 'Battle of Britain Museum" at the world's most famous WW2 fighter station.
The war is not over yet however, the Local Government Ombudsman is currently investigating a number of issues concerning the behaviour of Bromley Council and more than 14,000 concerned and angry people have now signed the petition set up by Doctor Rita and numbers continue to rise. The petition will be presented shortly to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP.
If you haven't already signed, please use the link below, or visit the campaign Twitter account @SaveOurChapel #ProtectStGeorges , where you will also find copies of the various press articles and a link to a video of the item run by BBC London News. Unfortunately, those of you without a UK postcode will not be accepted by the petition site.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
Following the 'Battle of Britain' service on 17th September, demolition works and construction are due to begin, of what is described in Private Eye as a "mediocre, inappropriate and inadequate" structure, with which Bromley Council intend to scar this important site, as a poor excuse for a 'Battle of Britain Museum" at the world's most famous WW2 fighter station.
The war is not over yet however, the Local Government Ombudsman is currently investigating a number of issues concerning the behaviour of Bromley Council and more than 14,000 concerned and angry people have now signed the petition set up by Doctor Rita and numbers continue to rise. The petition will be presented shortly to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport; The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP.
If you haven't already signed, please use the link below, or visit the campaign Twitter account @SaveOurChapel #ProtectStGeorges , where you will also find copies of the various press articles and a link to a video of the item run by BBC London News. Unfortunately, those of you without a UK postcode will not be accepted by the petition site.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
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St Georges Chapel
It would appear that after "filibustering" by the local council last night which precluded pre booked questions being asked into this disgraceful scheme that scaffolding has been erected and work has started today. A total disgrace.
From another website:
Latest news
Copied from an email I received today:
************************************************************
Last night we were were denied asking on your behalf our pre-booked oral questions at a Full Council Meeting of London Borough of Bromley. The newly appointed Deputy Leader deviously 'filibustered' us, by waffling on and using up all the available time responding to questions on another matter. The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive appeared to be complicit in this manoeuvre, making no attempt to curb his ramblings.
One of the important issues we were to raise was whether it was morally correct that Heritage Lottery money should be used to demolish part of the Listed Chapel. The Council have been granted nearly £2M of Heritage Lottery money for this divisive scheme. If you think that this is wrong, as I do, will you please email the Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Stuart Hobley, and copy in the Leader of the Council, and his Chief Executive. Just a sentence or two and if you don't get a reply, please send it again. Their email addresses are:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Scaffolding was erected yesterday around the Vestry and stripping out of the interior has started today, despite the Local Government Ombudsman not having received the information he requested from the Council to start his investigation into their planning procedures!!
So sorry to bring such bad news, but please do email the people above to show your disapproval.
Latest news
Copied from an email I received today:
************************************************************
Last night we were were denied asking on your behalf our pre-booked oral questions at a Full Council Meeting of London Borough of Bromley. The newly appointed Deputy Leader deviously 'filibustered' us, by waffling on and using up all the available time responding to questions on another matter. The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive appeared to be complicit in this manoeuvre, making no attempt to curb his ramblings.
One of the important issues we were to raise was whether it was morally correct that Heritage Lottery money should be used to demolish part of the Listed Chapel. The Council have been granted nearly £2M of Heritage Lottery money for this divisive scheme. If you think that this is wrong, as I do, will you please email the Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Stuart Hobley, and copy in the Leader of the Council, and his Chief Executive. Just a sentence or two and if you don't get a reply, please send it again. Their email addresses are:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Scaffolding was erected yesterday around the Vestry and stripping out of the interior has started today, despite the Local Government Ombudsman not having received the information he requested from the Council to start his investigation into their planning procedures!!
So sorry to bring such bad news, but please do email the people above to show your disapproval.
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And another update received just now on Facebook:
Hello Friends,
Please keep your emails going to the Heritage Lottery Fund (who are financing this travesty) and also Bromley Council. But now please copy in Historic England as well.
I know some of you have received 'nonsense' replies from the London Borough of Bromley. If you have any doubts about what we have said, please google the official Historic England Listing for the Memorial Chapel, Entry No 1391588. The detailed description of the North Chapel or Vestry starts: 'The large Chapel to the N is detailed in a more complex way....' The 'oculus' it then goes on to mention is the Air Crew Association stained glass window.
The Chapel has only been listed once, that being in 2005 and the Listing is for the COMPLETE building, comprising the Main Chapel, the St George's Room and the Vestry, which is a fine brick building designed by acclaimed Architects Purcell Miller Tritton. It covers some 70 square metres, the largest component of which is described on the plans as the 'Choir Vestry'. It was completed at the time of the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and was built because it had been noted that the Chapel was lacking in its facilities and it incorporates a small boiler room to make the Chapel independent heating wise. The complete Chapel is 'modern' in Listed Building terms, as it is all post war, and demolition of the Vestry is part demolition of the Listed building.
The Leader of the Council has also made comments to emailers on the matter of the 'filibustering', perhaps he should contact his own Mayor on the subject, who has emailed us on this matter and is in no doubt as to what happened.
I hope you all agree that the demolition of the Vestry and replacing it with an ugly inadequate building, despised by the public, is misappropriation of Lottery funds.
CAN YOU HELP US GET THIS INTO THE PRESS ?!?
With your help we can still get this madness stopped and convince the Council to give us a Museum building 'Worthy' of the most famous RAF Station in the world, Biggin Hill, the 'Strongest Link'.
Email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]
Copy to: [email protected] and [email protected]
Please feel free to email me: [email protected]
Kindest regards
Rita Radford
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
Please keep your emails going to the Heritage Lottery Fund (who are financing this travesty) and also Bromley Council. But now please copy in Historic England as well.
I know some of you have received 'nonsense' replies from the London Borough of Bromley. If you have any doubts about what we have said, please google the official Historic England Listing for the Memorial Chapel, Entry No 1391588. The detailed description of the North Chapel or Vestry starts: 'The large Chapel to the N is detailed in a more complex way....' The 'oculus' it then goes on to mention is the Air Crew Association stained glass window.
The Chapel has only been listed once, that being in 2005 and the Listing is for the COMPLETE building, comprising the Main Chapel, the St George's Room and the Vestry, which is a fine brick building designed by acclaimed Architects Purcell Miller Tritton. It covers some 70 square metres, the largest component of which is described on the plans as the 'Choir Vestry'. It was completed at the time of the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and was built because it had been noted that the Chapel was lacking in its facilities and it incorporates a small boiler room to make the Chapel independent heating wise. The complete Chapel is 'modern' in Listed Building terms, as it is all post war, and demolition of the Vestry is part demolition of the Listed building.
The Leader of the Council has also made comments to emailers on the matter of the 'filibustering', perhaps he should contact his own Mayor on the subject, who has emailed us on this matter and is in no doubt as to what happened.
I hope you all agree that the demolition of the Vestry and replacing it with an ugly inadequate building, despised by the public, is misappropriation of Lottery funds.
CAN YOU HELP US GET THIS INTO THE PRESS ?!?
With your help we can still get this madness stopped and convince the Council to give us a Museum building 'Worthy' of the most famous RAF Station in the world, Biggin Hill, the 'Strongest Link'.
Email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]
Copy to: [email protected] and [email protected]
Please feel free to email me: [email protected]
Kindest regards
Rita Radford
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
A reply from HLF:
Thank you for your email in relation to the BigginHill Memorial Museum project. We are responding to all correspondence on thismatter in a similar way.
We awarded a grant of £1.98m in June 2017 for a project to carry out necessaryrepairs to the Chapel of Remembrance at Biggin Hill, safeguarding it for thefuture, as well as to create a new museum.
Pressures on public finances have rendered the MoD and Church of England unableto manage the Chapel's requirements and the whole site faced risk of closure,with no public access possible.
To be clear, the Grade II listed Chapel, built in 1951, is not beingdemolished.
Our funding is being used to undertake careful repairsto return the Chapel to its original intention and preserve it for the future,including stained glass reparations, replacement of damaged roof tiles,re-pointing, and brickwork repairs.
A small extension, built in 1990 is being removed, and we are aware of thelocal anxiety surrounding this. However Historic England, the government'sstatutory heritage agency, have reviewed the plans and they have not objectedto this work. This extension is not a public space. We are aware this requiresthe movement of the Air Crew Association stained glass window however theCouncil has assured us this will stay on the site and in view independently ofthe Museum, as it is now.
We have no role in the concept of the design of the museum. We requireapplicants follow the established democratic processes to ensure projects areappropriately consulted, and granted the necessary permissions. This projectwas granted planning permission following the required Council procedures,which is not something we have a place to override.
We note local concern over access to the Chapel during construction works. Thesite is currently closed to general admission until the building works are complete,in November 2018, however there will be a number of special access days to theChapel and Garden of Remembrance for local people during the works period.Funerals of veterans will be accommodated during the closure period, and accessfor visitors from far afield with special connections to the site will also beaccommodated where possible. The Garden of Remembrance is consecrated so cannotand will not be disturbed by the works.
We are aware ofcomments made about Bromley Council meetings. HLF is not accountable, orpresent, at Council meetings and any questions or concerns about these must beaddressed to the Council direct.
The new Museum will provide opportunity to ensure that the story of the AirCrew of Biggin Hill is shared with a much wider range of people than it is now.The project will also allow free independent public access to the Chapel tocontinue into the future, for longer hours than ever before. Further informationcan be found at http://www.bhmm.org.uk/faqs/
We would suggestthat you contact the Museum Trust directly to share your views with the projectteam. They can be contacted on [email protected].
Kind Regards,
Stuart Hobley
Head ofHeritage Lottery Fund, London
Thank you for your email in relation to the BigginHill Memorial Museum project. We are responding to all correspondence on thismatter in a similar way.
We awarded a grant of £1.98m in June 2017 for a project to carry out necessaryrepairs to the Chapel of Remembrance at Biggin Hill, safeguarding it for thefuture, as well as to create a new museum.
Pressures on public finances have rendered the MoD and Church of England unableto manage the Chapel's requirements and the whole site faced risk of closure,with no public access possible.
To be clear, the Grade II listed Chapel, built in 1951, is not beingdemolished.
Our funding is being used to undertake careful repairsto return the Chapel to its original intention and preserve it for the future,including stained glass reparations, replacement of damaged roof tiles,re-pointing, and brickwork repairs.
A small extension, built in 1990 is being removed, and we are aware of thelocal anxiety surrounding this. However Historic England, the government'sstatutory heritage agency, have reviewed the plans and they have not objectedto this work. This extension is not a public space. We are aware this requiresthe movement of the Air Crew Association stained glass window however theCouncil has assured us this will stay on the site and in view independently ofthe Museum, as it is now.
We have no role in the concept of the design of the museum. We requireapplicants follow the established democratic processes to ensure projects areappropriately consulted, and granted the necessary permissions. This projectwas granted planning permission following the required Council procedures,which is not something we have a place to override.
We note local concern over access to the Chapel during construction works. Thesite is currently closed to general admission until the building works are complete,in November 2018, however there will be a number of special access days to theChapel and Garden of Remembrance for local people during the works period.Funerals of veterans will be accommodated during the closure period, and accessfor visitors from far afield with special connections to the site will also beaccommodated where possible. The Garden of Remembrance is consecrated so cannotand will not be disturbed by the works.
We are aware ofcomments made about Bromley Council meetings. HLF is not accountable, orpresent, at Council meetings and any questions or concerns about these must beaddressed to the Council direct.
The new Museum will provide opportunity to ensure that the story of the AirCrew of Biggin Hill is shared with a much wider range of people than it is now.The project will also allow free independent public access to the Chapel tocontinue into the future, for longer hours than ever before. Further informationcan be found at http://www.bhmm.org.uk/faqs/
We would suggestthat you contact the Museum Trust directly to share your views with the projectteam. They can be contacted on [email protected].
Kind Regards,
Stuart Hobley
Head ofHeritage Lottery Fund, London
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This is the latest news from Rita. Just when one thought that things couldn't get any worse:-
It turns out they can! If you haven't signed the petition yet please do so. It is almost within a mere 2,500 of the stated target of 25,000 signatures. Bromley Council's incompetence needs a just reward. Let's just give it to them!
Dear Friends,
The London Borough of Bromley and its BHMM Trust first demolished the Vestry, part of the Grade Two listed Chapel, at a cost of £25k, then started to build the horrible 'Visitors Centre' with wholly inappropiate bricks, and now have cut down all the trees and shrubs that had created such an atmosphere of tranquilty at the Chapel over the years since the war.
IT NOW TRANSPIRES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING!
The Learning Centre, a large part of the rear of the building, and stipulated by the Council's own consultants as 'critical' to the project, is now on hold and a public appeal has been made for £250K, although in Council and BHMM documentation, the underfunding is £600K to £650K! However the project was 'bulldozed' ahead, despite the Council knowing as early as July last year that their funding application to the Clore Duffield Foundation, who finance educational projects, had been unsuccessful (source: LBB Report No: DRR17/032). Unless in the next few months a huge amount of money suddenly magically appears, the rear of the building will not be completed for the planned opening in the Autumn. This is all happening despite the Council claiming to have already achieved funding of £5.3m, so with the costs already accrued within the Council, the cost of this 'divisive' inadequate scheme must be in excess of a whopping £6m!
Surely for a Council to start a project of this nature, knowing full funding was not in hand, could be considered extremely dubious?
I am doing everything I can to publicise these facts, so if you think of any way to raise the profile, please do so because it will have more impact than only coming from me.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
Thanking you all for your continued support, and please keep spreading the word.
Rita Radford email: [email protected]
The London Borough of Bromley and its BHMM Trust first demolished the Vestry, part of the Grade Two listed Chapel, at a cost of £25k, then started to build the horrible 'Visitors Centre' with wholly inappropiate bricks, and now have cut down all the trees and shrubs that had created such an atmosphere of tranquilty at the Chapel over the years since the war.
IT NOW TRANSPIRES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING!
The Learning Centre, a large part of the rear of the building, and stipulated by the Council's own consultants as 'critical' to the project, is now on hold and a public appeal has been made for £250K, although in Council and BHMM documentation, the underfunding is £600K to £650K! However the project was 'bulldozed' ahead, despite the Council knowing as early as July last year that their funding application to the Clore Duffield Foundation, who finance educational projects, had been unsuccessful (source: LBB Report No: DRR17/032). Unless in the next few months a huge amount of money suddenly magically appears, the rear of the building will not be completed for the planned opening in the Autumn. This is all happening despite the Council claiming to have already achieved funding of £5.3m, so with the costs already accrued within the Council, the cost of this 'divisive' inadequate scheme must be in excess of a whopping £6m!
Surely for a Council to start a project of this nature, knowing full funding was not in hand, could be considered extremely dubious?
I am doing everything I can to publicise these facts, so if you think of any way to raise the profile, please do so because it will have more impact than only coming from me.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitio...of-remembrance
Thanking you all for your continued support, and please keep spreading the word.
Rita Radford email: [email protected]
