Aviation Heritage UK Awards 2023

Individual of the Year

Roger Farmer

Roger took control of the unenviable task of closing the Fenland & West Norfolk Aviation Museum when the lease on their premises ended. His drive and determination to find new homes for all their exhibits and memorabilia meant that when the premises were returned to the owner, everything in FAWNAM had found a new home. During this time, he has also become co-ordinator of the East Anglian region of the Military Aviation Heritage Network.

Roger was presented his award by AHUK President Tony Edwards.

Group/Museum of the Year

Blackbushe Heritage Trust

The Blackbushe Heritage Trust has successfully raised funds, and arranged transportation and all the needed documentation to acquire and transport Vickers Viking G-AGRW from Bad Voslau to Blackbushe airfield. This not only saved an airframe that is significant to the UK’s aviation history as a part of the rebuilding of civil aviation after WWII, but it also serves as a focal point for a future heritage centre at Blackbushe Airport. The Trust manages to make the most of both online and in-person fundraising, along with essential partnerships and a well-managed social media presence.

The team were presented the award by AHUK President Tony Edwards.

The Robert Pleming Memorial Award for Innovation

The Whirlwind Fighter Project

This year the Robert Plemming Award goes to a truly innovative project involving work to build from scratch a Whirlwind Fighter over the last ten years. The project started with just eleven drawings and three wind tunnel models. This has been reverse engineering to the extreme!

Lifetime Achievement Awards

AHUK Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2023 have been made to:

Tony Amos, for his volunteering at Brooklands Museum since 1989 including his exceptional forklift and crane operating skills ;

Andy Lambert, for his contribution to the development, growth and success of Brooklands Museum for more than 35 years, including the use of the Brooklands Belle and Millie;

Phil Birtles, as a stalwart member of the de Havilland Aircraft Museum for nearly half a century, serving for forty years as a trustee and twenty as Chairman;

John (Jock) Heron, For his work with the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust (RRHT), including over 20 years as chairman as well as being Vice-President of the Bristol Branch, Chairman of the RAF Historical Society and Principle at the Aerospace Bristol Museum;

Peter Brown, for his dedication to Blackbusche for since the 1950s. He independently runs the Blackbushe Proboards forum as well as being Chairman of the Blackbusche Heritage Trust;

Colin Cruddas, who began his career as an aircraft engineer with Fairey Aviation at Hayes before moving to Blackburn Aircraft at Brough then BAC at Filton before working in the USA and South Africa. Finally, he joined Flight Refuelling Ltd/Cobham plc in Dorset, later becoming their archivist. Best known for his work on Sir Alan Cobham, he has written 15 aviation books, including his own autobiography;

John Sharpe, for enabling Boscombe Down Aviation Collection to evolve into a unique organisation where visitors can first hand immerse themselves in “All thing’s aviation” – Inspiring and educating all that visit;

Rod Simpson, has been an active member of Air-Britain for over fifty years. In that time, he has been both a Trustee/Director of the organisation, Chair of Air-Britain, member of the Publications Committee and Editor of Aviation World;

Alan Norris, for his years of dedication and support tot he Helicopter Museum.