Bentley Priory Museum

RNLI 200: Remembering the Rescue of The Few
2024-10-04 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-05 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-18 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-19 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) and 18 more dates | Bentley Priory Museum, Mansion House Drive, Stanmore, HA7 3FB, United Kingdom
RNLI 200: Remembering the Rescue of The Few explores the critical role of the RNLI in WWII, including rescues during the evacuation of Dunkirk & of Battle of Britain aircrew in 1940. With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Friday Morning Talks: BRIXMIS - With Aldon Ferguson
2024-10-11 11:00 - 12:00
Join us a for our Friday morning talk, where the ever popular historian Aldon Ferguson will be returning to talk about the Cold War covert reconnaissance mission, BRIXMIS.
The British Commanders’ in Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany was essentially a license to spy. Formed in 1946 by the Robertson – Malinin Agreement it permitted selected UK military groups to wander in Soviet occupied East Germany to monitor their troop movements and activities. This right was fully exploited until the end of the Cold War and removal of Soviet forces from East Germany in 1991. This is that story.

This talk will take place onsite in the Museum’s Learning Centre and is included in Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required – please reserve your seat via the link below.
Reserve Your Place

Friday Morning Talks: My Uncle, The Battle of Britain VC - With Jim Nicolson
2024-10-25 11:00 - 12:00
Join us at the Museum for our Friday morning talk, where Jim Nicolson will be returning to speak about his Uncle, James Nicolson VC.
In this presentation, Jim Nicolson will talk about his similarly named uncle, James Nicolson, who was the only Fighter Command pilot in the whole of the Second World War to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Jim’s talk focuses on his uncle’s early war experiences; the action which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross; the impact that the award had on him and his wife; his subsequent death in action in Burma near the end of the war; ending with the steps taken to remember his gallantry.
About the speaker
Jim served for thirty years as a police officer; working for most of that time in Soho and London’s East End, before moving to Hertfordshire from where he retired in 2002, as the Assistant Chief Constable.
He has been a keen student of military history for many years, particularly focusing on aviation and the Great War.

It will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre for those with Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.
Reserve Your Place

Friday Morning Talks: Phew! That Was Close - With Air Marshal GA 'Black' Robertson
2024-11-08 11:00 - 12:00
Join us at the Museum for our Friday morning talk, where Air Marshal (Retd) GA ‘Black’ Robertson will be returning to speak about some extraordinary individual’s experiences that are featured in his latest book ‘Flying Through the Ranks’.
Popular speaker Air Marshal Black Robertson returns on Friday 8 November with another fascinating talk: Phew – That Was Close! It’s based on his latest book, Flying Through the Ranks, where contributors from a Marshal of the RAF to a Junior Technician tell a series of extraordinary stories that run the gamut of risk-taking from the Cold War to the Balkans.
To give you a flavour of some eye-opening experiences, you’ll hear of a Lightning first-tourist who succumbs to the ‘press-on spirit’. In the Falklands a calculated gamble puts tanker crews in grave danger, while a brilliant, almost equally risky piece of improvisation averts potential disaster for a young Hunter pilot. Then from Kosovo comes the tale of an astonishing helicopter escape. There are engineer stories too, not least those from a UK base seemingly prone to serious accidents. Central to so many of these riveting tales is the bond between those who fly and those who support them on the ground – as is the most important factor of them all: sheer good fortune. Don’t miss this enthralling illustrated presentation.
About the speaker
Air Marshal GA ‘Black’ Robertson CBE BA FRAeS FRSA RAF (Retd)
‘Black’ Robertson joined the RAF in 1963, instantly acquiring the nickname that’s remained with him ever since. After 3 years at the RAF College, Cranwell, he spent the next three decades in flying, staff and command appointments including tours of duty in the USA, Germany and the Falkands. He flew all the RAF’s front line fighter aircraft and also qualified as a helicopter pilot. A trustee of the David Vaisey Awards, a Cranfield Trust mentor and an ambassador for the National Spitfire Monument, www.nationalspitfireproject, he now devotes his time mainly to lecturing and writing and has appeared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Gloucester History Festival. Flying Through the Ranks is his fourth book; for more information, see www.blackrobertson.com.

It will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre for those with Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.
Reserve Your Place

Friday Morning Talks: Stalin's Female Pilots - The Night Witches - With Debbie Land
2024-11-29 11:00 - 12:00
Join us at the Museum for our Friday Morning Talk, where Debbie Land will be speaking about Stalin’s Female Pilots, known as The Night Witches.
A look at the engagement of women in Stalin’s Air Force, with focus on the Night Witches and the Polikarpov PO2.
We will lightly venture into the Russian historical timeline, to look at some of the women involved in WWI, aviatrix progress during the inter-war years and introduce some of the key players who felt the need to respond to Operation Barbarossa.
About the speaker
Debbie is the Costume and Carriage Curator / Volunteer Co-Ordinator at the Shuttleworth Collection & Gardens in Bedfordshire. She is also responsible for leading the flightline tours at the ever popular Shuttleworth airshows.
It will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre for those with Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.
Reserve Your Place
