Attraction near Horncastle set for national exposure

A soon-to-re-open visitor attraction near Horncastle is set for national exposure as part of a new Dambusters documentary.
Re-enactors at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Picture: Martin Keen/Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage CentreRe-enactors at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Picture: Martin Keen/Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
Re-enactors at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Picture: Martin Keen/Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby has been working with October Films on the piece for Channel 5.

October Films is an award-wining independent TV production company with credits including Rio And Kate: Becoming A Step Family and Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out.

It recently spent two days filming at East Kirkby – home to the ‘Just Jane’ Lancaster – with presenter Dan Snow and a team of re-enactors.

It comes as the centre prepares to re-open after closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It will begin welcoming visitors again from today (Saturday, July 18) – 32 years to the day since it opened.

Tickets are being sold via www.lincsaviation.co.uk due to Covid-19 attendance limitation requirements.

Andrew Panton, from the centre, said: “This closed period has been very difficult.

“Fortunately, we have been able to use the Government’s furlough scheme for our employees and we have had the business rates ‘holiday’, but we haven’t had any other grants, I’m afraid.

“We have been surviving on web shop sales, our Supporters Club membership renewals, and our Rivet Club Lancaster restoration supporters club.

“This small amount of income has helped to cover some of the continued costs with the Lancaster as she finishes her winter restoration.”

The lack of income has meant the centre has had to cancel next winter’s restoration work and start some funding campaigns.

On this front, it has managed to raise £4,000 to start the restoration of its spare Lancaster elevators, and it currently has an appeal running to help raise £2,500 for a jig to build some new engine bearers

To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/f/jig-for-just-jane

“Now being able to re-open the centre will hopefully enable us to recover some income, provided we receive enough visitors to cover the running costs of opening,” Mr Panton said.

“We are hoping to be able to start taxying the aircraft again in August,” he added.

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