In 1940, during the Battle of Britain, a special relationship existed between Tangmere and Goodwood. Actually it was RAF Tangmere and RAF Westhampnett (Goodwood) at that time and both were fighter bases providing the major element of the defence of the South of the UK against enemy attack. Tangmere was the main base and Westhampnett the satellite providing the extra space to avoid having too many aircraft in one place as well as acting as a backup to each other in the event that one was closed or unavailable for any reason.
Fast forward eighty three years, brush off the dust and the system still works. Late on Friday evening (14th July), faced with the forecast of dangerously high winds, a decision was made by Goodwood to cancel Saturday’s Festival of Speed(FOS), for the first time in the 30-year history of the event. Although this message was sent out there were many people who were already en route and others who were here for the full four days. OK, Saturday morning, doubtful weather, what can we do that’s undercover? Answer, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
The Museum’s opening hours are from 1000 until 1700 and our staffing levels are set for an anticipated footfall of approximately 200. Staff levels are increased significantly for planned special events and holidays but none were scheduled for this weekend as the public interest would naturally be drawn towards the FOS. When the Museum staff arrived at 0900, they found the first guests waiting and by 1030 the main car park was full and our additional parking already in use. The limitations of normal weekend manning quickly became apparent and the ‘cry for help’ was sent to all volunteers. Within an hour additional guides, simulator instructors and shop staff had reported in and were assisting throughout the Museum.
The range of visitors was amazing and came from many different countries. Their interest in speed and mechanical things meant that they quickly felt at home and probed with more and more questions. Demonstrating the intricacies of the Piston Provost to a group of Italians, dressed in classic red Ferrari Team attire (were they part of the official Team?), it was fascinating to see how much commonality existed between aviation and motor racing – we spoke a similar language when it came to high powered petrol engines. Also among the many people to arrive was 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, Jensen Button. Apparently, he found the Lightning simulator a little too slow at 1500 miles per hour! We hope that he might find time to visit us again in the future.
At 1700 the Museum finally closed. Over 650 visitors had found their way here and from the expressions all around, both staff and visitors, it had been a most successful day. As people left they appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed their visit and had been pleasantly surprised by the scale of the Museum and its range of exhibits and artefacts. Happily, on Sunday, the weather improved and the FOS was able to resume.
For the Museum staff it was heart-warming to realise that a relationship, first established eighty-three years ago between the two sites, had been rekindled at such short notice and to such good effect.
