Biggin Hill Memorial Museum

Did you know that we have just started sticking Solley’s Kentish ice cream? Yummy whatever the weather! #solleysicecream #icecream #nightingalecafebiggin #museumcafe

RAF Biggin Hill 1939-1940 by Richard C. Smith
This book covers the role of the aerodrome during the early years of the Second World War, told using first hand accounts from interviews taken with pilots, ground personnel and documentation including letters, combat reports and operation books.
Available at BHMM shop, signed by the author, £12

Pilates Class
Thanks to Victoria Parker for giving us a fun and relaxing Pilates class in the Chapel. Join us next week 2-3pm. Tickets are £4.50 and can be purchased at the museum reception desk.

D-Day and RAF Biggin Hill
On 6th June 1944, one day later than originally planned, ‘D-Day’, the invasion of Normandy in France, by the Western Allies commenced. D-Day, officially code-named Operation Overlord, was one of the most important events of the Second World War. The plan by the Allies (which included the UK, France and the USA), was to invade the Normandy coastline and begin the task of freeing occupied Europe from control by Nazi Germany.
In the early hours of D-...Day more than 23,000 Allied troops parachuted into Normandy from planes, and more than 132,000 troops were transported from ships onto five beaches along the Normandy coastline. The beaches were code-named, Gold, Juno, Omaha, Sword and Utah. It was the largest air, land and sea operation in military history. The operation helped to bring World War Two to its conclusion in 1945.
RAF Biggin Hill played a minor role during this time due to its geography. Whilst it was crucial to the defence of London, it was too far from Normandy to take part in the action on D-Day. As D-Day approached, the fighter squadrons were concentrated on bases as far forward as possible. RAF Biggin Hill was now the logical site for balloon barrages, large kite balloons used to defend against enemy attacks, and they would prove crucial to the defence of London when the first flying bombs were launched by Germany after D-Day.
The link below is for a short film by Pathé showing how D-Day was commemorated in 1964, 20 years after D-Day, at St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, Biggin Hill.
https://lght.ly/20mca8
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A wonderful impromptu flag changing ceremony and a special moment to remember the D Day commemorations #dday #bhmm #nationallotteryheritagefund #museumvolunteers #raf #heritagefunduk #heritagelotteryfund @ Biggin Hill Memorial Museum

Join us for Pilates every Friday at 2pm
Originally developed by Joseph H Pilates who said that the inspiration for his system of exercises came to him during World War One, while he was being held at the Knockaloe Internment Camp, on the Isle of Man. He taught his method to the other prisoners of war and continued to develop his methods after the war.
Join us for a peaceful and restorative session. All levels welcome.
... Starts this Friday, 7th June 2pm. £4.50, tickets can be purchased at the museum reception desk
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Listen again to our Director on Talk Radio ahead of the D Day commemorations next week. Thanks to Paul Ross and everyone at @talkradiouk #paulross #bhmm #nationallotteryheritagefund #heritagefunduk #dday #radio https://talkradio.co.uk/radio/listen-agai n/1559260800#

Adult Lecture Series: A Royal Air Force inspired by its past to achieve greatness in the future
Join us for an evening lecture with Squadron Leader Rick Lipscomb. Rick has been with the RAF for 35 years. He currently works as an Aerosystems Engineer with the RAF Heritage Branch.
Tuesday 25th June. Doors open 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.... In St George's RAF Chapel of Remembrance Ticket holders will be given a glass of wine after the lecture. https://lght.ly/ndn8n50
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BHMM on BBC Radio Kent
Listen to our Director Jemma Davey talk about the significance of RAF Biggin Hill during the Second World War and how it was used as a barrage balloon station during D-Day. https://lght.ly/7ij36ka The interview is 1 hour and 8 minutes into the Saturday Breakfast show. For more information on our programme of events to mark the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings visit our website: https://lght.ly/9f73ib #DDay75 #BBCRadioKent

Volunteers Week 1st-7th June
To mark Volunteers Week we would like to say a really huge thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers! They carry out a wide range of tasks, including working in the café, on the reception desk, the Chapel, as well as doing talks and research. We hope they have found it a rewarding experience.
If you are interested in volunteering at Biggin Hill Memorial Museum please email hello@bhmm.org.uk #VolunteersWeek #bhmm

BHMM on talkRadio
Listen to our Director Jemma Davey give a brilliant interview on Biggin Hill fighter pilots, WAAFs and the role the station played in the lead up D-Day. Here's the link: https://lght.ly/1ihaodg The interview is 6.5 minutes into the 4am slot #DDay75 #talkRadio

May Half-Term Activities for Children
What was it like for children living in Biggin Hill during the Second World War? Join us over the half-term week to play 1940s-style games, try our plane spotting activity and make your own paper Spitfire as we look into what life was like for youngsters living under the shadow of war. In addition, come and look at our object handling collection with items relating to civilian life on the home front.
Crafts and games suitable for all ages..., object handling for ages seven and upwards. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Special talk by volunteer John Preedy on Wednesday May 29th at 11:30 about his model plane collection.
Activities run from 11am to 3pm over the half -term week, starting on Saturday 25th May and running until Sunday June 2nd, including Bank Holiday Monday but excluding Tuesday. All activities are free with the price of a ticket.
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Biggin Hill Memorial Museum commemorates the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
Biggin Hill Memorial Museum will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the historic seaborne invasion, on Thursday 6th June. Come and join us for talks about the event by our volunteer Andy as well as Geoff Greensmith's childhood memories of D-Day and the important role Morse Code played in the run up to the invasion. You can also inscribe a message on a memorial pebble to remember the many who ...gave their lives on the beaches and beyond.
Talk timetable 11:30am: D-Day Anniversary Talk 1:00pm: Geoff Greensmith's Childhood Memories of D-Day 2:30pm: D-Day Anniversary Talk 3:30pm: Morse Code
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European Neighbours' Day
To mark European Neighbours' Day we would like to pay tribute to all the European pilots who have served at Biggin Hill. The highest scoring pilot during the Battle of Britain was a Czech, Josef Frantisek. Polish pilots were also keen to enlist with the RAF during the Second War. The War Cabinet created two Polish squadrons, 302 and 303 in the summer of 1940. A number of Polish pilots joined 32 Squadron. The picture below shows pilots from 32 Squadron in October 1940 (from left to right): Sergeant Korber ‘Cobra’ (Czech), Pilot Officers Waskiewicz (Polish), Jack ‘Beacon’ Rose (English), and then Stanislaw Czternastek, Jan Flkowski, Sniechowski and Zbigniew Janicki (all Polish)

New Guide Books
We are pleased to announce that our Large Print and Braille Guide Books have arrived. The Braille Guide Books also include touch objects. Available upon request at the museum reception desk. #heritagefunduk #braille #rnibseedifferently #BigginHillMMT

We were delighted to welcome members of the Barwell family to the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum today. Group Captain Philip 'Dickie' Barwell became CO at Biggin Hill in June 1941 and served here until his death on 1st July 1942, when his plane was mistakenly shot down by a Spitfire. Pictured are Dickie's son Richard (left) and his nephew, Peter Alec Barwell Johnson, who is holding a picture of Dickie taken in 1928.

Adult Lecture Series: Jacqui Granger on Second World War WAAFs
Join us for an evening lecture with Jacqui Granger, a librarian who works for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), for Defence and Security Studies. Jacqui will be illustrating the history of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAFs), using the collections and history of RUSI.
Date: Tuesday 28th May... Time: Doors open 18:30 for a 19:00 start. Finishes at 21:00 Location: St George's Chapel Cost: Tickets are £11.25 Details: Ticket holders will be given a glass of wine after the lecture.
Buy tickets through Eventbrite: https://lght.ly/eb9nn2l
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