International Bomber Command Centre Fears Closure

The International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire has warned it could be forced to close after being hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

The site, which has now reopened to the public, said it has lost 90% of its income because of the pandemic.

Nicky van der Drift, the centre's CEO, told Forces News: "We've been closed 17 weeks and, literally...over 60 events had to be cancelled, all of our group booking events are gone, so 90% of the income is gone.

"That's ongoing because it's affecting all our booking going all the way up to Christmas now.

"66% of our bookings here are through group bookings, without some clarity on that we could be in trouble by January."

The centre is the largest single memorial to the RAF's Second World War Bomber Command.

It reopend on Tuesday, with a number of measures put in place to help protect visitors and staff, including a one-way system and hand-washing facilities. 

The centre is also having to limit its number of visitors to ensure social distancing is maintained.

James Barr, who was on a day out at the site, said: "Couldn't get here quick enough, I think the whole place is magnificent."

Tour guide Janis Tunaley said it would be "tragic" if the centre had to close and stop telling the stories of Bomber Command.

"There's still so much that we don't know about what happened," she told Forces News.

Mrs Tunaley added: "It's just so important that the lessons learnt through that conflict aren't lost."

The International Bomber Command Centre, which is on the outskirsts of Lincoln, opened two years ago.