Battle of Britain Tours is pleased to announce the launch of a new series of public tours at the weekend.
Starting 6 May, you can now join other individuals and small groups every other Saturday for an exciting and inspirational day out in 'Hellfire Corner' - that part of Kent that bore the brunt of Luftwaffe aerial attacks in the dramatic summer of 1940. You will see and hear what is was like for pilots like Richard Hillary (see left) who, as one of Churchill's 'Few', sought to defend this country from an aerial onslaught as a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot.
Each day tour includes:
A driver and transport to key Battle of Britain sites
personalised attention from your local expert guide, Dr Anthony Medhurst, throughout the day
entry to the impressive Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge aerodrome with the largest private repository of Battle artefacts in the world
entry to the memorial to Churchill's 'Few' at Capel-le-Ferne
lunch in a pub frequented by aircrew in 1940 and from where you can view pilots' combat reports written after battle
the opportunity to hear the stories of, and pay your respects to, the fallen at the nearby cemetery.
Anthony Medhurst said:
"I was captivated as a teenager by Richard Hillary's personal account of the Battle of Britain in 'The Last Enemy". I am now thrilled to be launching this new public tour so that I can share with others these stories of bravery and sacrifice of men like Hillary and his friends. This highly personalised day will enable between 4 and 14 people to take in the sights and sounds of the Battle of Britain in the very location in which it took place. The stories of Churchill's 'Few' inspired me all those years ago and continues to do so to this very day. I know that it will inspire you too"
Dates for public tours are:-
May - Saturday 6th and 20th
June - Saturday 3rd and 17th
July - Saturday 1st and 15th
Aug - Saturday 5th and 19th
Sept - Saturday 2nd, 16th and 30th
Oct - Saturday 14th and 28th
Nov - Saturday 11th
If you would like further information or to book your place, please visit www.thebattleofbritaintours.co.uk or contact Anthony on 07852 765901 or email anthony@thebattleofbritaintours.co.uk.
Your tour will be confirmed when a minimum of four people have booked. If you prefer to have a private tour for your own group of friends, family or colleagues on a Saturday or another day of the week, please contact Anthony for further details.
Photo of Richard Hillary courtesy of the Battle of Britain monument and the David Ross collection.
Sounds like a wonderful way to help us understand that time in our history when those very brave pilots defended their mother country. Definitely on my to do list next visit to UK from Australia .