Duxford in trouble

[phnuff]

Sorry - I have only just found this thread and words fail me how the IWM could even consider charging veterans. The Director should have his OBE repossessed instantly.

I am also confused. Is the situation that the IWM has backed down from charging because they are happy to do the right thing or are the veteran's only being allowed in for free because of sponsorship by individuals ? If its the latter, then quite frankly, the situation stinks; if its the former, then yes its spin, but at least they have shown themselves, belatedly, to be capable of seeing sense and not afraid to do so publicly (unlike too many politicians, but that is another post) !

Also if it is the case that sponsorhip is the reason and more is needed, how can I contribute ?

[wingandaprayer]

I have just phoned Duxford, thought I'd be crafty and see what they would say about a donation by phone to them.

They tried to put me through to Linda Quinn (01223 499323) who I am told will take donations for the fund, but she is apparently out of the office. So anyone to late to get money to Mike can, it seems, still make a donation through her.

I was told by the lady I spoke to that any Vets turning up on the day will no longer have to pay. The donations have been used to re imburse those who have paid, with the remainder going to charity, and any others will get in free.

Hopefully they will see sense and let them ALL in for free and ALL the donations will go to charity.

Now to send my letter of complaint

WaaP

[Wee Jock]

Duxford is of course only part of the IWM and maybe we should be dealing with the organ grinders and not the monkeys. Take a look at this lot:

Trustees of the Imperial War Museum
President: HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO
Vice President
and Chairman: Admiral Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL
Deputy Chairman: Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter ****** GCB DFC AFC RAF
Board Members: Miss Kate Adie OBE
Ian Andrews CBE TD
Sir John Coles GCMG
Dame Jean Else DBE MA
Sir Robin Fearn KCMG
Christopher Fisher Esq
Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman KCMG CBE FBA
Miss Jyoti Munsiff
Rabbi Dame Julia Neuberger DBE
Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Wallace KBE
Bill Woodrow Esq RA
His Excellency Michael L'Estrange (Australian High Commissioner)
His Excellency Mel Cappe (Canadian High Commissioner)
His Excellency Shri Ranendra Sen (Indian High Commissioner)
His Excellency The Hon Russell Marshall CNZM (New Zealand High Commissioner)
Her Excellency Dr Maleeha Lodhi (High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Her Excellency Lindiwe Mabuza (South African High Commissioner)
His Excellency Faisz Musthapha (Sri Lankan High Commissioner)
One vacancy
Director-General Mr Robert Crawford
Secretary Mr Jon Card
The Sovereign appoints the President of the Board. The Prime Minister appoints ten members, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs two (Sir Robin Fearn and Sir John Coles), the Secretary of State for Defence one (Mr Andrews) and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport one (Miss Adie). Their High Commissioners represent seven Commonwealth Governments ex officio.

I reckon its Kate Adie (why isn't she a Dame??) we ought to be talking to, she's got a lot in common with the veterans as she's also been shot at. I'm going to have a go at contacting her. I'll let you know how I get on (Or don't get on...)

[Mike Cross]

Phnuff

Is the situation that the IWM has backed down from charging

No, they are still charging.

or are the veteran's only being allowed in for free because of sponsorship by individuals

Yes

IWM are still charging 8 pounds for each Veteran and each of them may also bring a companion for 8 pounds. This is a reduction on the normal admission price. The sponsorhip that the forumites have provided will hopefully ensure that none of the Veterans actually has to fork out because we will be paying their admission fees for them.

[Evo]

Can you really not say ****** on PPRuNe??? Obviously not.

[phnuff]

Chairman: Admiral Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL

I shared a King Air Flight from Northolt to Barrow (Vickers) with him about 15 years ago. I bet he wouldnt remember me

I have just tried ringing the IWM as well. Linda Quinn (01223 499323) is on Voice Mail. I'll try again later

[Mike Cross]

Oh the power of spin

http://www.itvregions.com/news.php?r...ent=6614&cat=0

Veterans get free show at Duxford

2 Jun, 2004, 17:19

War veterans who want to attend the Duxford D-Day celebrations will now be able to go free of charge, after a change of heart by the war museum.

[Divergent Phugoid!]

Is this really going to be a free entry or will it be funded by the donations made by a couple of persons mentioned earlier in the thread on the mill site?(sorry guys/girls cant get back to the page to name you)

Its such an outrage that the IWM could even contemplate such a charge.

Stern email sent.

!!!!!

[FNG]

The donations have been made by dozens of people, private flyers and others, and brilliantly organised by Frank Voeten and Mike Cross.

[Mike Cross]

If you're not keen on the ITV version (link above) try the
BBC's take on it.

Donations from members of the public are paying for tickets to allow D-Day veterans to attend a military air show in their honour.

The Imperial War Museum is charging the former Normandy troops £8 to watch the celebration.

BBC or ITV? Your choice

Mike

[rustle]

Mike, we know the reason for the differing views.

BBC in this instance talked to the owners of the facts whereas ITV to my knowledge didn't bother and relied on the BS emanating from IWM.

(I hope there's enough acronyms in that sentence for one Friday morning )

[Maxflyer]

Just because the bean counters have been allowed to mar what is meant to be a commemoration of bravery and sacrifice, we shouldn't completely tar the IWM with the same brush. We live in a bottom line society and as such every organization is forced to get what they can where they can. This in no way excuses IWM, but we have shown, via the efforts of Flying Dutch and Mike Cross, that however it is dressed up, our concerns about this attitude are listened to.

So why not suggest that someone from the GA community be nominated for the vacant position on the IWM board? That way (if successful) when future occasions similar to this one arise where a modicum of common sense and decency are required, the kinds of view expressed by contributors to this forum will be made clear to the board in general and of course, the bean counters.

I would like to visit the IWM in all its guises and feel confident that its main objective of educating each new generation about past sacrifices and struggles continues, but not with an overriding profit motive.

I would nominate someone like Mike Cross if they were interested.

[J.A.F.O.]

Driving in to work this morning I heard Mr Inman from IWM interviewed on BBC Radio Suffolk stating that the veterans would now get in for free.

I voiced my feelings to the station and I've just been interviewed in response saying that the IWM is not letting anybody in for free, they are merely letting others foot the bill. I pointed out that if it were not for these veterans and many thousands like them the IWM would not have a reason to exist at all, they are publicly funded and should have allowed the veterans in for free. I also stated that once they realised the depth of feeling from the general public they should have held up their hands, admitted their mistake and dropped the charge.

There has certainly been a great deal of debate about this issue and very little of it has been in IWM's favour. Apparently the radio station has been inundated with offers of donations, so what FD and Mike started here is continuing apace. Well done to both of them and everyone who contributed.

Mr Inman may have tried to get his spin across to the public this morning but we got the last word on the subject.

I hope that all of the veterans visiting Duxford this weekend have a fantastic time and use the eight quid to have a couple of beers to remember those who aren't able to join them.

[DRJAD]

Then well done to you, too, J.A.F.O.

Would that it were on national broadcasting, also.

[Kolibear]

I've just fired off a Mr Angry snotagram to the ITV pointing out that the IWM is still charging, but its US thats paying. (And proud of it too!)

If you wish to comment, then the e-mail address isses are:-

[email protected]. and [email protected]

I don't often get annoyed, but that statement from the ITV made me see red!!

[FNG]

Thanks to all of those who put their names to the letter to Mr Inman at IWM. I am awaiting a reply.

[FNG]

Duxford has now started sending out an anodyne, standardised email reply to those who complained in respect of its stance on this matter, reiterating the spin and making no apology.

[rustle]

...so we should send a similar reply to [email protected] who is the Assistant to the Head of Visitor Services, Imperial War Museum, Duxford

Can I use your reply?

[FNG]

I wrote back as follows:-


I am not impressed at receiving a standardised response identical to that provided to others who have complained of the Museum's handling of this matter. I wrote yesterday to the Director and I invite a full response from him. I am one of the people who donated the funds in respect of which the Museum is seeking in its public statements to claim some kind of credit. The Museum ought to be prepared to admit that it made a fundamental error in seeking to charge veterans for attending the D-Day event. The Museum should please stop trying to spin its way out of this and should publicly apologise.

[J.A.F.O.]

Fully agree FNG and I think that anyone who receives a standardised email should send back the text from FNG above and see how they like being ignored.