The decision marks a succeesful conclusion to many months of hard work by Folkestone architectural practice Godden Allen Lawn, council planners and the Trust and gives the green light to this ambitious project.

The new building has been designed to look like the iconic Spitfire wing, complete with its signature uplift, and will have room for educational activities as well as the experience itself. The Wing will not be a museum but will use high tech audio-visual effects to bring to life the story of the Battle of Britain.

With planning permission granted,the real work begins as the Trust needs to raise an estimated £2.5 million to build
and fit out this exciting new project. A bid has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund but additional fund-raising will be a major priority over the coming year.

“We are delighted to have won planning permission for this exciting new development but we recognise that there is a long way to go,” said Trust Chairman Richard Hunting CBE. “We hope that people will see the value of what we are trying to achieve here at Capel-le-Ferne and will contribute generously to this great cause.”

If you would like to join the mailing list, just send an email to malcolm@go4marketing.net and we will make sure you are kept up-to-date with the work of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

This is set to be a really exciting year for us, so make sure you keep in touch.

Battle of Britain veteran William Walker last year released a book of his poetry and donated all the proceeds to the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

The book, available in both hardback and softback versions, has proved immensely popular, and the Trust is waiting to hear if the Guinness Book of Records will accept the 98 year-old’s bid to be recognised as the oldest first-published poet.

Meanwhile the Trust has been recording William reading some of his own work with a view to releasing it on CD at a later date. Here is a sample of his work.

The coach tours, which cost just £65 – or £60 for Friends of the Few – will take place on 12 May and 8 September. They include lunch with a veteran, afternoon tea, and visits to places including the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge and the village of Elham.

Find out more by following this link

“Tonight we will remember them” was first performed by Janet and Ann at the 70th anniversary End of the Battle gala dinner in the presence of the Patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Prince MIchael of Kent GCVO. The song is available for just £5 plus £1 p&P. See the shop page for cheque details and payment address and click the video to hear a short sample.

Page 14 of the February edition is given over entirely to an article on the fund-raising plans, together with pictures both the front and side views of the iconic, Spitfire-shaped proposed building.

Here at Capel-le-Ferne we are looking forward to making real progress towards raising the cash we need for The Wing in 2012 and we are sure our supporters will continue to help us. Don’t forget that the shop and car park are now open on weekends throughout the winter, so please come and see us and enjoy a walk on those wonderful white cliffs that meant so much to returning aircrews back in 1940. We’ll be back on Sunday 8 Jan and we look forward to seeing you soon.

The volunteers keep the shop, cafe and car park at the site open daily throughout the summer, generating a great deal of vital revenue for Trust funds by selling souvenirs and refreshments as well as welcoming visitors and keeping the site clean, tidy and well kept.

This year they have agreed to keep the facilities open each weekend throughout the winter, a move that has already proved successful in helping to raise funds as well as giving visitors the chance to warm up with a hot drink after visiting the clifftop site on a windy Capel-le-Ferne day. Access to the Memorial site itself is possible on foot 365 days a year.

“The higher profile the National Memorial to the Few has enjoyed since last year’s 70th anniversary has put a lot of extra pressure on our superb volunteers but they have always risen to each new challenge,” said Trust chairman Richard Hunting CBE.

Visitors to the Memorial site rose by about 25 per cent between 2010 and 2011, with this year’s attendance topping 50,000.

The planning application for the dramatic building, which takes the shape of a double Spitfire wing, has been submitted to Dover District Council, and fund-raising is well underway.

The Trust has stressed that the new building, to be called The Wing, will not be a museum but will use modern technology and state-of-the-art techniques to bring to life the experience of those who took part in the Battle of Britain.

At the centre of the two wings will be a first floor viewing area, complete with balcony, that will offer unrivalled views across the Channel to the French coast, from where the Luftwaffe would have appeared in the summer and early autumn of 1940.

The Trust is hoping that National Lottery funding will offset some of the anticipated £2.5 million cost of building and fitting out the ambitious attraction, which was launched during the Battle of Britain’s 70^th anniversary year in 2010.

Local architectural practice Godden Allen Lawn, based in Folkestone, has designed the building, which will have a study area, shop and café as well as housing the experience itself. Access to the site and to the Memorial and the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall will remain free.

While the Memorial itself is always open to those on foot, the car park, shop and café normally close from the end of September through until the beginning of April. This year, though, the facilities will be open daily until the end of October and then each Saturday and Sunday from 5 November through until the spring.

The date on which weekday openings will begin in 2012 will be advertised here as soon as it has been agreed. Call in soon, buy refreshments or a souvenir and say ‘hi’ to our volunteers!