Museum still hopes to purchase airfield (From The Oxford Times)

I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

There are so many military heritage sites though, and when you've visited one, you've essentially covered them all.

There has to be a clear market and clear funding for at least 10 years - otherwise, like so many visitor attractions, after a miserable summer there'll be a bail-out followed by administrators appointed with debts owing to local companies.

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

There are so many military heritage sites though, and when you've visited one, you've essentially covered them all.

There has to be a clear market and clear funding for at least 10 years - otherwise, like so many visitor attractions, after a miserable summer there'll be a bail-out followed by administrators appointed with debts owing to local companies.

If it was a mixture of both old and modern, with films, simulators, and interactive games to keep all ages entertained it might work, as we all like to be educated as long as it is interesting and fun, but as you say, I don't think that another bog-standard museum would work there.

ger elttil OX2 0EJ wrote:

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

There are so many military heritage sites though, and when you've visited one, you've essentially covered them all.

There has to be a clear market and clear funding for at least 10 years - otherwise, like so many visitor attractions, after a miserable summer there'll be a bail-out followed by administrators appointed with debts owing to local companies.

If it was a mixture of both old and modern, with films, simulators, and interactive games to keep all ages entertained it might work, as we all like to be educated as long as it is interesting and fun, but as you say, I don't think that another bog-standard museum would work there.

They could possibly encourage the owners of classic aeroplanes to keep them there too

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

There are so many military heritage sites though, and when you've visited one, you've essentially covered them all.

There has to be a clear market and clear funding for at least 10 years - otherwise, like so many visitor attractions, after a miserable summer there'll be a bail-out followed by administrators appointed with debts owing to local companies.

Andrew: Oxford. No disrespect Sir, but it looks to me as if you don't fully understand what BCH have been campaigning about. BCH do have a website and social media sites you know? Doubt you have even bothered to look at them, so here we go for starters. The facts are:

1) that this article is rather erroneous to say the least!

2) and it's NOT just another a military museum.

The title is even wrong as BCH is an organization wanting to establish an Education Centre/Museum on the site. Lighten up Andrew, or we`ll want all our architectural heritage and green space bulldozed, "like so many" housing/commercial developers do, Once you visited one ruined site, you've seen them all. Sounds like it was not only the Summer that was miserable eh Chuck? ;-) Let's hope former RAF Bicester doe not become ruined by developers.

ARW988 wrote:

Andrew:Oxford wrote:

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
I still think that the MoD should donate the land & building to Bomber Command Heritage, it's an important part of our history, that should be preserved.

There are so many military heritage sites though, and when you've visited one, you've essentially covered them all.

There has to be a clear market and clear funding for at least 10 years - otherwise, like so many visitor attractions, after a miserable summer there'll be a bail-out followed by administrators appointed with debts owing to local companies.

Andrew: Oxford. No disrespect Sir, but it looks to me as if you don't fully understand what BCH have been campaigning about. BCH do have a website and social media sites you know? Doubt you have even bothered to look at them, so here we go for starters. The facts are:

1) that this article is rather erroneous to say the least!

2) and it's NOT just another a military museum.

The title is even wrong as BCH is an organization wanting to establish an Education Centre/Museum on the site. Lighten up Andrew, or we`ll want all our architectural heritage and green space bulldozed, "like so many" housing/commercial developers do, Once you visited one ruined site, you've seen them all. Sounds like it was not only the Summer that was miserable eh Chuck? ;-) Let's hope former RAF Bicester doe not become ruined by developers.

So what will the site bring that I haven't already seen at The IWM Duxford
or IWM Central London (Free) or Bletchley? All within short distance of Bicester. Or Travelling a little further, The Royal Armouries, Leeds (Free)? I suspect very little.

As long as it is all private money investing. All should be fine though.

Watch Channel 5 or Yesterday most nights of the week and there will be something on about WW II. Go to the IWM or Hendon and there will be a large collection of WW I and WW II kit on display.

Something distinctive would pull the punters in - how about a 'Cold War Museum'? Heyford would be a better place for it as it has a connection to the Cold War.

Watch Channel 5 or Yesterday most nights of the week and there will be something on about WW II. Go to the IWM or Hendon and there will be a large collection of WW I and WW II kit on display.

Something distinctive would pull the punters in - how about a 'Cold War Museum'? Heyford would be a better place for it as it has a connection to the Cold War.

King Joke wrote:
Watch Channel 5 or Yesterday most nights of the week and there will be something on about WW II. Go to the IWM or Hendon and there will be a large collection of WW I and WW II kit on display.

Something distinctive would pull the punters in - how about a 'Cold War Museum'? Heyford would be a better place for it as it has a connection to the Cold War.

So you have not yet visited the Upper Heyford Base Museum yet then, that covers the Cold War period? Mr Joke, can I suggest you do stop watching those WWII documentaries on Channel Five and Yesterday, and get visiting the places that display the subject matter that you have an interest?

Our plans are to create a unique education facility focused on all aspects of the RAF Bomber Command story of the WWII period and formative years, including the true costs and consequences of war. All this will be set in the time capsule atmosphere of the site - not a hotchpotch of content on a site with different period architecture, and certainly not another boring military museum.Think about that King Joke, and both Upper Heyford Base Museum and our plan would compliment each other very nicely.

I've cycled round Upper Heyford - most of it still wreathed in barbed wire and patrolled by nasty-looking security staff. There was certainly no mention of a museum. If there is they are doing their level best to discourage people from visiting, or they are fighting a losing battle against the authotrities in trying to encourage visitors to their site .

I take your point that the two places could accommodate each other, so good luck with your enterprise.

I you wish to know what these discussions are about then please go to www.bc-heritage.org and find out for yourselves. Lezzo.