Bentley Priory Museum

RNLI 200: Remembering the Rescue of The Few
2024-11-20 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-23 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-27 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-30 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-04 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-06 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) and 5 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: 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

Harrow Apollo Male Choir Annual Concert 2024
2024-12-07 14:30 - 16:30
We will be welcoming back Harrow Apollo Male Choir on Saturday 07th December for their Annual Concert at the Museum.
Harrow Apollo Male Choir will perform many favourites in the Museum’s spectacular Operations Room, including a festive selection of songs.
The Annual Concert will take place from 2.30pm until 4.30pm, with an interval.
The Museum including the Café that will be serving a range of light lunches and refreshments, will be open from 10:00am to concert ticket holders. Please note that Operations Room will be closed from 1.00pm, with the doors re-opening for guests to be seated shortly before the performance.
Tickets include a mince pie and non -alcoholic festive punch/juice at the interval.
Please note that the Museum will be only be open for general admission until 1.00pm for non-concert ticket holders.
Book Online Here or call 020 8950 5526.

Meet Father Christmas
2024-12-13 13:00 - 16:00
Get into the festive spirit with a fun family visit to Meet Father Christmas!
Father Christmas will be joining us and will have a special gift for each child!
Come and have a go at our festive craft activity too!
Tickets (Include Museum Admission & Craft Activity):
Adult: £4
Member (adult/concession): Free
Child: £10 (includes gift)
The museum is open 10:00am – 4:00pm with the café serving festive treats and a craft activity available all day. Families will meet Father Christmas 1 group at a time within the booked hour timeslot. Please note that for the first time, this year we have sessions available on the afternoon of Friday 13 December in addition to those on Saturday 14 December.
Tickets for Meet Father Christmas can be booked by clicking this link
Amendments to bookings can be made by contacting at enquiries@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk or by calling 020 8950 5526

Meet Father Christmas
2024-12-14 10:00 - 15:00
Get into the festive spirit with a fun family visit to Meet Father Christmas!
(Advance booking required)
Father Christmas will be joining us and will have a special gift for each child!
Come and have a go at our festive craft activity too!
Tickets (Include Museum Admission & Craft Activity):
Adult: £4
Member (adult/concession): Free
Child: £10 (includes gift)
The museum is open 10:00am – 4:00pm with the café serving festive treats and a craft activity available all day. Families will meet Father Christmas 1 group at a time within the booked hour timeslot. Please note that for the first time, this year we have sessions available on the afternoon of Friday 13 December in addition to those on Saturday 14 December.
Admission is by advance booking only and can be booked by clicking this link
Amendments to bookings can be made by contacting at enquiries@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk or by calling 020 8950 5526
Please note that the museum is open to Meet Father Christmas ticket holders only.

Friday Morning Talks: Dad's Army Goes To War - With Melody Foreman
2025-02-07 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for our Friday Morning Talk, where Melody Foreman will be talking us through the real military service history of many of the cast in the much loved comedy sitcom Dad’s Army.
For decades the classic, evergreen BBC comedy Dad’s Army has entertained millions of viewers around the world. But the farcical antics of Walmington-on-Sea’s bumbling Home Guard platoon camouflage the true military service of some of the actors themselves. Despite their light-hearted appearance, many of the cast saw active service in one, or even both, of the world wars – and much of it far from humorous.
About the speaker
MELODY FOREMAN is a journalist with experience in newspapers and television documentaries. She also works as a book sommelier and public speaker. Melody is the author of the best-selling Bomber Girls, A Spitfire Girl, the biography of Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Mary Wilkins Ellis, The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and the Blitz, and two books about the history of Kent. Melody is a regular contributor to national publications including Britain at War magazine. She maintains an avid interest in the social history of both the First and Second World Wars, literature, art, film and theatre studies. www.melodyforeman.co.uk

This talk will take place onsite in the Museum’s Operations Room gallery and is included in Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required
This talk was advertised as fully booked, but we’re pleased to say that it will now be held in our Operations Room gallery and further bookings will be taken. Please email enquiries@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk or call 020 8950 5526 if you would like to book.

CANCELLED - Friday Morning Talks: The Stanmores and Harrow Weald – Part 3 – With John Williams - CANCELLED
2025-02-14 11:00 - 12:00
*Originally postponed, this talk has now been cancelled owing to the sad news of the passing of the speaker, John Williams.

John was not only one of our valued Friday Morning Talks speakers. He had been a Museum Trustee for many years and continued as a volunteer after he stepped down.

John was incredibly supportive of the Museum and its foundation; promoting it in the local Stanmore community and offering hands-on support over the years. His latest project was overseeing the repainting/restoration of the Bunker doors to enhance the visitor experience.

He will be missed deeply by many of us at the Museum who got know him so well over the years.

Valentine's Day Afternoon Tea
2025-02-14 14:00 - 15:00
Are you looking for a special treat for a loved on on Valentine’s Day? Celebrate with us on Friday 14 February with a special afternoon tea available for groups of 2 or more. Served 2-3 pm.
£22 per person. Option to upgrade with prosecco on the day.
Separate museum admission or annual membership required.
Please book by Tuesday 11th February 2025.
To book and submit any dietary/allergy issues please contact groupbookings@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk or call 020 8950 5526 option 4 (group bookings).

February Half-Term: Airfix Make and Paint
2025-02-15 11:00 - 13:00
Saturday 15, Wednesday 19, Friday 21, and Saturday 22 February.
PLEASE NOTE: On Saturday 15 February this activity will need to close early at 1pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. All other sessions over half-term will be available until 3pm as planned.
Airfix Make and Paint activity for families.

Put together and paint your own Airfix kit! Kits, glue and paint provided onsite.

Suitable for children aged 8+. Peg Plane activity available for younger children.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

February Half-Term: Airfix Make and Paint
2025-02-19 11:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-21 11:00 - 15:00
Saturday 15, Wednesday 19, Friday 21, and Saturday 22 February.
Airfix Make and Paint activity for families.

Put together and paint your own Airfix kit! Kits, glue and paint provided onsite.

Suitable for children aged 8+. Peg Plane activity available for younger children.

Included in Museum Admission or Annual Membership.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

February Half-Term: Airfix Make and Paint
2025-02-22 13:30 - 15:30
Saturday 15, Wednesday 19, Friday 21, and Saturday 22 February.
Please note due volunteer and staff capacity, along with the incredible popularity of this activity, it will now run from 1.30 – 3.30 pm on Saturday 22nd February rather than its original scheduled time. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Airfix Make and Paint activity for families.

Put together and paint your own Airfix kit! Kits, glue and paint provided onsite.

Suitable for children aged 8+. Peg Plane activity available for younger children.

Included in Museum Admission or Annual Membership.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

FULLY BOOKED - Friday Morning Talks: Stanford Tuck – With Helen Doe - FULLY BOOKED
2025-02-28 11:00 - 12:00
This talk is now fully booked. A waiting list for places is in place on a first come, first served basis in the event of any drop outs. Please email us on enquiries@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk if you would like to be added to this.
Join us for our Friday morning talk, where popular historian, author and speaker Helen Doe will be talking about the legendry Stanford Tuck.
Her book is a completely new biography of this famous fighter ace. In January 1942 Tuck was one of the top three fighter aces. With film star good looks, he was a glamorous role model for the RAF publicity machine and an eager press and public wanting wartime heroes. He fought over Dunkirk and distinguished himself in the Battle of Britain. But in 1942 he was shot down and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III where his roommate was Roger Bushell, the Great Escape mastermind. Tuck narrowly escaped being murdered by the Nazis and later made a successful escape into Russian territory.
The book has been written with access to Tuck’s personal papers and seeks to understand the complex man behind the myths.
About Helen Doe
Helen Doe is a historian, author and speaker with a particular love of maritime subjects. It is people, often the ordinary and, sometimes unsung, heroes and heroines that attract her attention. She has written a range of books from maritime history to RAF history.
A popular speaker, Helen has spoken at several literary festivals and is a regular guest on cruise ships.
She has appeared on television, most recently in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? She has advised on many TV programmes including David Dimbleby’s Britain and the Sea.

This talk will take place onsite in the Museum’s Learning Centre and is included in Museum admission or Annual Membership.
This talk is now fully booked. A waiting list for places is in place on a first come, first served basis in the event of any drop outs. Please email us on enquiries@bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk if you would like to be added to this.

Ad Astra
2025-03-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-22 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-26 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-28 10:00 - 17:00
‘Ad Astra’ features photographs by Anastasia Taylor-Lind, as part of an IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commission, a national partnership programme of over 20 artist commissions inspired by the heritage of conflict.
Taylor-Lind’s photographs capture women in the RAF today, with the project taking inspiration from women who served within the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War.

Friday Morning Talks: 5K from the Frontline; Documenting the war in Eastern Ukraine - With Anastasia Taylor-Lind
2025-03-21 11:00 - 12:00
Join us at the Museum for our Friday morning talk, where photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind will be talking us through her time spent documenting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Anastasia will be talking to us about impact of the war on the lives of those ordinary people living along the frontline, which she has captured so vividly in her photographic project ‘5K from the Frontline’.
Anastasia is a photojournalist who has recently been commissioned by the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund for us, to capture photographs of women serving in the RAF today. These will be available to view in our next temporary exhibition titled ‘Ad Astra’ opening on Friday 21 March.
About the speaker
Anastasia Taylor-Lind is a British/Swedish photojournalist and a poet.
For the past decade Anastasia has collaborated with Alisa Sopova, a journalist and an anthropologist from the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. In 2023, she received the Canon Female Photojournalist Award for her long-term reporting from eastern Ukraine, and over 100,000 people visited her exhibition ‘Ukraine: Photographs from the Frontline’ at the Imperial War Museum.
Anastasia is a National Geographic Society Explorer, TED Fellow, and 2016 Nieman Fellow at Harvard university. Her first book Maidan – Portraits from the Black Square, about the 2014 revolution in Ukraine, was published the same year. Her debut poetry collection One Language was published by Smith|Doorstop in 2022.
Anastasia has Masters degrees in photojournalism and poetry.

The talk will take place in the Museum’s Learning Centre and entry is included with Museum admission or Annual Membership.
Advance booking required – please reserve your place via the link below.
Reserve Your Place
Photos by Anastasia Taylor-Lind ©
