The Museum had a Stand at the excellent RAFA display held at Shoreham Airport on the weekend of September 16 and 17. It was a good opportunity to meet aviation enthusiasts from across the country and abroad, and as always happens, many of them had interesting tales to tell concerning their service days, their experiences of Tangmere as an RAF station and, of course, of the aircraft we have at the Museum.
And immediately prior to that the Museum was represented by its Chairman, Curator and other members at Chichester Cathedral in a Service of Dedication to a new memorial commemorating all who served in the RAF at stations in Sussex. Air Marshal Sir Freddie Sowery was the patron of the appeal for associated funds to which the Museum made a handsome contribution. During the proceedings, the new memorial was unveiled by His Grace the Duke of Richmond and Gordon and dedicated by the Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend John Hind. The Service concluded with an Act of Remembrance. Attendees comprised a representative of the Air Force Board, several retired air chief marshals, the Lords Lieutenants of East and West Sussex, local civic dignatories and some 600 others including several Museum trustees and their wives. Refreshments were provided after the Service in a marquee in the Cathedral grounds in which Tangmere Military Aviation Museum had an exhibition stand which drew much attention from the assembled guests. The event concluded with a flypast of 2 of the RAF’s latest fighter aircraft, the Typhoon.
