Review of the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum

I received a delightful invitation from Katie Edwards (Director) of the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum to discuss areas of co-operation and in particular the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain this year. The Museum building has been designed to be non-obtrusive next to the Chapel which was modelled on a 1950s simplicity that would focus attention on memoralising 'The Few' and other pilots that lost their lives in operations during the Second World War. The reception area includes a shop with a fine selection of gifts that cater from children to those carrying a serious interest in the subject area and probably the most famous fighter station in the world. Visitors receive an ipad to augment their tour of the Museum and Chapel. The Museum covers the creation of the airfield during the First World War through to the Battle of Britain, with interactive features for children and poignant personal items that convey a human dimension to the overarching story. The Chapel is a still a place of worship and these are held on a Sunday morning. The highlights are certainly the stained glass windows that adorn the Chapel and commemorate individuals and organisations such as the Halton Apprentices. The Nightingale Cafe offers a convivial space for refreshments during your visit and an opportunity to view some of the airport activity. There are two replicas acting as gate guardians which represent the Spitfire of Geoffrey Wellum and Pete Brother's Hurricane, the two iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain.