International Bomber Command Memorial Unveiling - 2nd Oct

[Graf Zeppelin]

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 2015

Urgent Help Needed to Locate All Living Bomber Command Veterans

The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) need urgent help in order to locate all living veterans who served in Bomber Command during WWII.

The IBCC, at Canwick Hill, Lincolnshire, is to unveil Phase One of its build on Friday October 2, 2015, and want to ensure that every living veteran of Bomber Command is issued with a personal invitation to attend the event. Currently they have some 900 names and invitations to these are already being issued.

However, Bomber Command was an international effort and it is likely that there are more veterans in the UK, and across the globe, that are still to be identified.

The IBCC is the inspiration of Tony Worth, CVO, who, together with the Trustees and a loyal team of volunteers, have spent the past eight years raising funds for, what will be once completed, a world-class facility to serve as a point for recognition, remembrance and reconciliation for Bomber Command.

The centre will include several elements including: The Memorial Spire and Walls of Names, the Chadwick Centre, housing exhibition space, education and research facilities; acres of landscaped gardens, including two peace gardens, and an amphitheatre for external education, performances and commemorative events.

The Memorial Spire was erected on May 10th this year and the CorTen steel walls, arranged around the Spire Memorial will record the engraved names of 26,500 men who lost their lives serving in Bomber Command (subject to funding, the remaining 29,073 names will be added in phase two bringing the total listed on the walls to 55,573).

It is the Memorial Spire and the first sections of the CorTen steel walls that are to be unveiled at the ceremony attended by veterans and dignitaries in October this year.

Anyone knowing of any Bomber Command veteran is urged to register their names via email to events@internationalbcc.co.uk or write to: The IBCC, 13 Cherry Holt Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9LA.

The project is also looking for volunteers across the country who would like to be trained in oral history interviewing to record the memories of veterans. To get involved please visit www.internationalbcc.co.uk/volunteer-record

Ends
Editors Notes
About the International Bomber Command Centre
The IBCC is owned and run by The Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust which was set up in 2009 with the aim of building a memorial and interpretation centre to relate the story of the people involved with and affected by Bomber Command.
The Trustees are:
• Tony Worth CVO
• Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE
• Lady Sarah McCorquodale
• Air Chief Marshal, Sir Stuart Peach, KCB, CBE, FRAeS
• Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor University of Lincoln
• Richard Lake, CEO of Eastern Group
• Steve Ellwood, Chairman of A H Worth
• Col (Ret) Paul Beaver, CEO of Beaver Westminster
• Patron - Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard
The Appeal was formally launched in May 2013 and since then the Trust has raised £2.4 million.

In April 2014 the University of Lincoln became a full partner in the project.

The project was awarded earmarked funding of £3.1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in October 2014.


About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery

For further information
Nicky Barr, Director
International Bomber Command Centre
E: nicky@internationalbcc.co.uk,
T: 07789 790457 or 01778 421420
Facebook: International Bomber Command Centre
Twitter: @IntBCC

Or
Joy Moon
Press Consultant
E: joy@joymoon.co.uk
T: 07964 287078


The IBCC Media Centre, including images, is available via the web site www.internationalbcc.co.uk/media;
Username: press@lbcm
Password: presspass