On holiday this week, wife busy, lovely day ....Bike Ride time!!
Had a run out to the newly opened
International Bomber Command Centre 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.
