Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: SteveC#222 on April 05, 2018, 06:04:32 PM
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On holiday this week, wife busy, lovely day ....Bike Ride time!!
Had a run out to the newly opened International Bomber Command Centre (http://internationalbcc.co.uk/) just up the road from me at Lincoln ( Bomber County).
For those who haven't heard of it, it consists of 'The Spire' a monument to all those lost and over 100 metal plaques with the names of all 55,000 plus aircrew who were lost during WWII and the information centre which has some very impressive visual presentations telling the story of Bomber Command.
I have to say it isn't an easy visit, it's hard to comprehend the sheer numbers lost and when you see all of those names it really brings it home. The Information Centre displays are excellent, several interactive videos of various characters telling their part and very sensitively done.
I know the role of Bomber Command is controversial, but whatever your views you have to admire the bravery of the young lads barely in their 20's who went out night after night knowing they only had a one in four chance of completing a full tour without being killed or captured.
The £3 parking fee includes free access to the Memorial Gardens and monument, entry fee for the information centre is £8.30 - not cheap but if 55,000 men can give their lives then I think I can give them one hours pay to remember them.
Downsides? From a motorcyclist point of the entrance from the main road to the museum is deep loose gravel - not good. Also it has to be said it is a bit of a building site at the moment - it is a publically funded museum and it has struggled to get funding and so the priority was to get the Memorial completed so that some of the surviving veterans could see while they were still here. The other buildings are coming along now and should be completed in the near future.
Well worth a visit if you are in the area, but it will make you think.
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Thanks for that Steve, that's definitely going on my list of places to visit this year.
Ian
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Mmmm, good idea. Maybe a possible TC day out? :D
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Strange coincidence...OBM (Old Bike Mart) arrived yesterday and on page 8 is an advert for a Motorcycle ride-in event on 13th May at the new International Bomber Command Centre titled 'inSPIRE 2018'.
Dave.
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A truelly staggering figure of 44% of Bomber Command lost their lives. Probably the highest percentage death toll of any unit. The other thought that sticks with me, is that most of the crew went up there, with no personal control over how things happened, ie. only the pilots really had any control. The rest of the crew were their passengers, if you see what I mean :(
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Yeah, unimaginably brave and at the end of the day, all they were doing was following orders from the top. At the end of the war, all the thanks the survivors got from Winston Churchill was a kick in the balls. Still, that's politicians for you....
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Mmmm, good idea. Maybe a possible TC day out? :D
Hey Pete (and any other thumpeteers) do you fancy the ride in on May 13th? If not convenient we should meet up some other time and go.
Ian
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If you wanted to make a full day of it could I recommend starting at the Bomber Command Centre then riding to the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre at East Kirkby ( Lancaster 'Just Jane', Mosquito, Dakota and much more) VIA Woodhall Spa* - 617 'Dambusters' Squadron memorial. It would make a good day out for anyone in the area.
* The Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa was 617 Squadron's Officers Mess and use to have the remains of a prototype Bouncing Bomb in the car park. The Memorial is in the middle of town near the rounderbout.
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Don't know if I can make it, but 13th May sounds like a great meet up. Any camping nearby?
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Our Moped group are based in Spalding that week and are looking at going.
Pat & I will be in Llandovery (another bike meet) that weekend, then joining them the following week in Norfolk with our mopeds.
Dave.
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Mmmm, good idea. Maybe a possible TC day out? :D
Hey Pete (and any other thumpeteers) do you fancy the ride in on May 13th? If not convenient we should meet up some other time and go.
Ian
It sounds great to me Ian, but I'll have to check with the household authorities as to whether we have any family commitments that weekend....
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I'm up for a cake and a cuppa.
Andy
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Yep, I am up for this on 13th May, all being well, and provided nothing else crops up. I would be interested in making a weekend of it though :)
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Good God we got us a convoy......... The 13th is sounding like a good day and I'm pretty sure my mate will come as we have been talking about going to East Kirby as Steve has suggested.
Ian
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It should be my day off on the 13th so I'll try and make it if I can.
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Hi Steve. Would it be possible to do Bomber Command and East Kirby in the one day, or is that rushing it a bit?
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Yes, you could do both in a day, they are about 30 miles apart.
BUT!!! not on the 13th or any other Sunday as East Kirkby is closed on SUNDAYS!!!! ( as is the BBMF).
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Yep, I can do this weekend assuming daughter isn't late producing new Grandson. I'd probably go up Friday night after work so as to have a full day on the Saturday, as it sounds like that's the day if we want to do East Kirby. May possibly stay over Saturday night too, otherwise would end up having the bike loaded up with gear all day Saturday. :)
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There are a few pubs in the area in the Good Beer Guide that have camping facilities. i will make some further enquiries, and i too would be up for staying friday and saturday night. Visit East Kirby on the Saturday, then Bomber Command in Lincoln for the ride in on the Sunday :)
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I could make a camping night on Saturday so could do East Kirby and Bomber Command.
Ian
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This seems to be turning into an event, so lets move it to that section.......