Our apologies for the delay providing you with an update but much has happened over the last month. We have continued to look and campaign for new premises on the airfield but every suggestion we have made has been turned down. It became increasingly obvious that we were fighting a losing battle, but you never know…

In the meantime, we turned our attention to where we could store our aircraft and cockpits. We met senior executives of European Aviation Limited and FR Aviation who were very keen to help us and tried very hard to find space in their hangars but, after many weeks delay, they discovered that they just did not have the room. However, FRA offered to store our trailers in their secure car park for a year. The most difficult and frustrating part of that process was waiting for replies from these very busy people as the clock ticked towards the end of April deadline.

Bournemouth Flying Club was most helpful and offered to take the Harvard as a "Gate Guardian" at the entrance to their clubhouse. They were also prepared to store another couple of aircraft on the grass on the "air side" of their premises. We also approached them about using an office in their Flying School and received a positive response.

The cockpits were another matter, especially the Vulcan. Things became so desperate we tried negotiating with a local farmer for temporary storage in his large grain store until harvest time and arranged for the Viscount cockpit to be loaned to the aviation museum at Newark. Time was running out.

Meanwhile, our volunteers were busy sorting and packing a mountain of exhibits, artefacts, displays, cabinets and goodness knows what else, collected over 10 years labour of love. Over this time the number of 43 feet trailers provided by GIST increased from 2 to 5. The interiors looked enormous but as the deadline approached they rapidly filled.

Organising the packing the trailers was a task in itself, trying to make sure that the items least likely to be needed in the future were towards the front and v.v. at the back. We also tried to note the position of the types of items on a chart taped to the outside, but often forgot (sorry, Ivan). Some things, like aircraft engines, required heavy lifting equipment and a lot of heaving, grunting, groaning and moaning! Some things looked as if they were going to fit into the trailer but did not. One evening we borrowed the use of a large fork lift truck and driver to try to get the Griffon engine in a trailer but its centre of gravity caused the back wheels of the truck to lift off the ground as the engine was lifted. So we next tried getting the Vampire cockpit in. It only just fitted but as it was moved into the trailer its wooden supporting frame collapsed. It took us another hour or so to get it out and was an even greater challenge to move and park it outside the hangar.

Our local volunteers were absolutely brilliant. Their sense of purpose and team spirit was fantastic. They worked their socks off and were very patient when we had to change plans or unpack things we discovered were in the wrong place or trailer. Our bribes of free coffee, tea, sausage rolls and cakes seemed to work. (No, we did NOT put Bromide in the tea!) One of our volunteers organised a similar move in the RAF which took 8,000 work hours to achieve using fit, young people. So, ten people working 8 hours a day should take 100 days i.e. over 3 months. We packed our Museum in 2 months, using mostly retired people who could give us a few hours a day. Now that is something to think about. The clock ticked on and pressure mounted from Airport management for us to get out.

In the last week in April we had a breakthrough. Richard Edwards had kept the local MP, Mayor of Christchurch and the Christchurch Council Chief Executive informed of our current situation and our future plans for an Aviation Heritage Centre. During one of her official visits the Mayor mentioned our plight to the owner of Adventure Wonderland, situated just outside the airfield. He contacted us and offered us the use of his overflow car park as the site of an Open Air Museum. Negotiations have been taking place and we are drafting an official Agreement to use the site for one year providing we can obtain Planning Permission.

We have strongly resisted leaving the Airport as it will completely alter the concept of the Museum by moving away from flying aircraft and being able to see active aviation engineering activities. But, we have to be realistic and do what is best for the Museum and supporters of the Charity. Adventure Wonderland is a local "attraction" which caters for the younger members of families. It is very successful and has over 150,000 visitors each year. If we can attract just a small percentage of them and charge a modest fee we could make a very significant amount of money for our cause. It is certainly is much better than having nothing at all or to pay for storage.

The owner is also keen for us to move there as he sees the two activities as complimentary. (What a change!) We would have our own quite distinct and separate area outside his complex facing the main runway and the Terminal. OK, so it's behind a hedge, but we can always build a viewing bank or platform. He also has a 25 acre field closer to the end of the runway which could be a potential site for our Aviation Heritage Centre. It looks like an excellent compromise and opportunity but do not get carried away. We still have to get Planning Permission to display some large and, to some at least, visually intrusive items in a green belt area. Our main task is to obtain this as quickly as possible. (Google Earth users should enter BH23 6BA and look at the area right of the marked paths in the car park).

Time ran out on Wednesday 30th April when we reached our deadline to leave. A small army of volunteers scurried around to cram our last possessions into the trailers which were moved to FR Aviation's car park. There was also a flurry of activity craning containers out of the way and moving ground equipment so that the huge EAL aircraft towing vehicle could pull the 1-11 out of its position on the grass and, with just feet to spare, ease it past the hangar and slowly tow it away. It was sad to see it go and to return to our empty hangar. At 5.00 p.m. the airport's Estates Manger turned up to check that we had vacated the premises. But, to his surprise and our amazement, we actually did it! He complimented us on achieving what seemed to be impossible and allowed us the concession of letting our aircraft and cockpits remain outside until the end of May to give us further time to, hopefully, arrange the move of the remainder of our aircraft and cockpits to our temporary new "home".

We are not quite homeless. Bournemouth Helicopters is letting us use one of their offices in their associated "ground handling" business. It is in the Portakabin to the left of the Museum entrance.

During this very busy time we had a meeting with Volunteers and Friends at the Flying Club on the 16th April. The place was absolutely packed, showing the level of interest and support. The Chairman of the Trustees, Martin Gwynn, outlined the current situation and the efforts being made to find new premises. Andrew Dixon described the efforts being made to store aircraft and cockpits and Richard Edwards summarised the museum packing and storage activities. Richard then told everyone about the plans for an Aviation Heritage Centre, issued everyone with a copy of the proposed layout and took them on an imaginary tour. Ken Bradley then described a new Club we are creating for Volunteers and Friends to enable us to meet regularly and enjoy interesting talks and visits. The Club will be run by its members and the subscriptions will be donated to Museum funds. [Richard has already received a voucher from EAL for 4 people to have an hour's training in their 747 simulator which we will be offering as a raffle prize].

We also suggest that, in the short term, we meet for chat and to keep people informed on Tuesdays at 10.00. The Flying Club seems a suitable place, especially as the staff are so welcoming and it has a fantastic view of the runway with lots of aircraft activity in that area. If anyone would like to join us for tea, coffee, or breakfast we would be glad to see you.

Now that the main part of the move is over we will also turn our attention to our administration and improving our communication with Volunteers and Friends. One of our priorities is to update our database, particularly so that we can make more use of email. (Don't worry, those without will not miss out). We also want to revamp this website to reflect our changed situation and to make it easier to read and find information.

So, although we have lost the battles to remain at Hangar 600 and to find another location at the Airport, we hope to hover on the rim ready to rush back if there is a change of ownership, management or attitude. We will NOT let our local aviation heritage be cast aside for commercial interests, or for the successful and popular facility that we have taken so long and hard to create, and the public to enjoy, to become history. Look out MAG - we will continue the fight and are determined to be back!

Bournemouth Aviation Museum Trustees.

P.S. Will the person who packed my shirt, trousers and fleece in one of trailers, let me know where they are. I'm getting a bit cold! - Richard

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