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TONY IVESON EVENING A GREAT SUCCESS

See also SAVE RAF BICESTER CAMPAIGN

BCH Chairman Dean Overton (left), Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC (right)

A fund-raising evening with a talk by veteran WWII pilot Tony Iveson goes down a storm in Bicester.

In defiance of the current 'austerity Britain' thinking, people from all over the country came on Saturday 22nd, October to Bicester in Oxfordshire for a fund-raising evening in aid of Bomber Command Heritage and their campaign for an Education Centre/Museum. Nearly two hundred people came to the amazing new John Paul II Community Centre and enjoyed a fascinating evening with 92-year old veteran WWII pilot Tony Iveson DFC and fund-raising activities for BCH. The evening was a great success with everybody enthralled by Tony's talk, and with several thousand pounds being raised for BCH in the process.

Tony's talk was riveting. From his explanation of why the subject is so important and then his first hand accounts of getting shot down during the Battle of Britain in a Spitfire, to then his various escapades flying Lancasters for RAF Bomber Command in 617 'Dambuster' Squadron - this included several attacks on the Tirpitz battleship in Norway - and all done in his understated way, and with great understanding of the human cost involved on all sides.

Tony has also been instrumental in helping organize the new multi-million pound Memorial to RAF Bomber Command in central London, and is now keen that the proposed BCH Education Centre/Museum at the former RAF Bicester will be seen as helping to explain the importance of the subject. He said: "It is very important that, as my generation passes, future generations are able to understand and learn from this part of our history."

Various fund-raising activities including a raffle and silent auction, netted some impressive winnings for the audience. These included a ground run in a Lancaster, and a flight in a Tiger Moth. Many local businesses kindly donated items.

The proposed BCH Education Centre/Museum on the whole site, would be a tremendous asset for Bicester and the local community, as well as the Nation. Currently the project is unable to acquire the Site whilst the current owners the MoD are unable to enter into negotiations over the fate of this historic Government Estate. Last year Cherwell Council described the MoD's management of the site as "scandalous." In Parliament last November the Defence Minister admitted to local MP Tony Baldry that: "the MoD no longer expected any significant commercial revenue for the disposal of the site." This seemingly recognizes BCH's belief of the £34 liability contained in the site for any organization without Crown immunity to prosecution.

BCH are greatly heartened by the support that potentially Tony Iveson and the Bomber Command Asscociation (veterna's association) may be able to bring to the project. We are most humbled, and it is now up to both BCH and Bicester to step up to the mark.

ABOUT TONY IVESON

Tony Iveson fought in the Battle of Britain with RAF Fighter Command as a Sergeant pilot, joining 616 Squadron at Kenley, flying Spitfires, on 2nd September 1940. On the 16th September, he was forced to ditch into the sea after running out of fuel following a pursuit of a Ju88 bomber. His Spitfire L1036 ditched 20 miles off Cromer in Norfolk and he was picked up by an MTB. He joined No.92 Sqn the following month. Commissioned in 1942, Tony undertook his second tour transferring to RAF Bomber Command, where he was selected to join the famous 617 Squadron, 'The Dambusters', flying Lancasters. He took part in most of 617 Squadron's high precision operations, including all three sorties against the German battleship Tirpitz and went on to become one of the most respected pilots in the squadron.

Tony Iveson, now chairman of the Bomber Command Association, is one of the principal campaigners to have a permanent memorial erected to the 55,000 bomber aircrew killed in WWII and is a frequent commentator on this topic on both television and radio, having most recently appeared on Desert Island Discs. A few years ago, at 89, he became the oldest man to have flown a Lancaster Bomber when he was invited to visit the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Tony Ivseson's current book: " Lancaster: The Biography."
Published in softbackback by Andre Deutsch, £7.99.
Available to buy from BCH

shop@bc-heritage.org

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