In the 6 months that I have been the Arts Minister I have visited many museums but I always have a special affinity for those that are related to our armed forces. I am a huge supporter of our armed forces who do a fantastic job of keeping us all safe and I want to commend all those who have served and are serving in our military.
That is why, following a refurbishment, I was delighted to attend the grand re-opening of the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London which was opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex. My visit also came a day before Armed Forces day which was on Saturday, 30th June 2018 and I was happy to mark the occasion by showing my support for our armed forces.
The RAF Museum in London brings you through the fascinating history of the world’s first ever independent Air Force with new innovative galleries such as ‘RAF: First to the Future’ and ‘The RAF in an ‘Age of Uncertainty’. The Museum now also boasts Prince William’s Sea King helicopter, from his days as a pilot in the RAF. The refurbishment of the Museum was paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, one of the arms-length bodies under my ministerial responsibility. Indeed, people may be surprised but the arts world shares a long and successful history with our military. This year marks the RAF’s 100th birthday and this new museum is a great way to ensure that the rich history of this vital institution can be shared with future generations.