Welcome to the website of Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association
New Chairman’s message
Firstly may I introduce myself I’m Ray the new chairman of the LLA.
I have been a committee member for 30 years.
Dealing mainly with the sales side of the charity; sourcing new products and in some cases having products specially made.
As I’m sure you’re all aware Stuart Stephenson our previous chairman was taken seriously ill at the beginning of 2013, resulting in him retiring from his position as Chairman.
It had been his intention to retire at the AGM.
We wish Stuart a speedy recovery and a happy retirement.
With the imminent launch of the BBMF’s club on the horizon and the illness of our chairman, this left a difficult situation for the committee.
Now that the committee has been restructured we are in a good position to move forward in a positive and professional manner.
With the continued support of you the members; we will carry on as in the past and support the BBMF and other related causes.
Without you, the members, none of this is possible.
So its business as usual, let’s all do our bit to keep the Lancaster PA474 and aircraft of BBMF flying.
Ray Bainborough
Chairman
Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association
Lest we forget
Membership Changes
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY REPORT
When I started this position in January 2012, I inherited a huge back log of work amounting to over 4 months in length. Whilst every effort has been made to claw some of this time back, despite my best efforts and time spent in doing it, it has still not been possible.
It is now obvious that not only had the committee been left in an unfortunate position of having the administration fall a long way behind hand, they had also under estimated the effect of the membership increase in price from £8 to £12 would have on the work load of the membership secretary.
When I was approached to take on this position it was suggested that it needed only 2 mornings a week to do all the work.
The increase in work load was estimated to be twice the normal amount for the remainder of the financial year. I now think this is increased to at least three times that amount so it has be difficult to keep processing the reminders and payments received leaving very little time to resolve queries over payments and with e-mails not receiving any attention due to the total lack of time being available.
(I experienced many months where we were unable to see the membership e-mails as the password to sign in was not passed on to any of the committee.)
I have tried to send out the reminder letters early enough so that those paying by standing order can have them amended before the payment date. Unfortunately this has caused several members to complain that they have been sent out to early as they are done on the whole month at a time rather than a weekly basis. Most standing orders are timed for the beginning of the month, so the reminders needed sending out early enough to try and have them amended in time.
Having sent reminders out early, it has not unfortunately had the desired effect as many are still coming through at the old rate, this has caused an inordinate amount of work to resolve the individual payments and then send further letters pointing out the short payments and setting up new standing orders for future years.
Notes to members
Membership Cards
There is no longer any need to return your folded card membership cards as since 2009 we have been computerised and you are sent a new card each time you renew the membership,
Gift Aid
If you are a U K tax payer your £12 membership can become £15, as we can claim back £3 through Gift Aid from the government.
If we have 5000 members and only 20% are able to gift aid then we will receive back £3 000 which will go some way to cover the large increase in postage costs. Your little contribution will add up to a tidy sum. If you have not already signed a new Gift Aid form please consider doing so?
Robin Stephenson
Membership Secretary
Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association
Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association
Lincolnshire's Lancaster Association is a Registered Charity that holds a unique position as the official support Group for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Association was formed from the Lincolnshire Lancaster Committee, which was a small group of people who came together when the Lancaster was moved from RAF Waddington to RAF Coltishall in 1973. The original aims of the Committee were to ensure that the Bomber would return to Lincolnshire and that a Lancaster would remain in the county for ever as a memorial to the many aircrew who lost their lives whilst based here during World War II.
At that time 'S for Sugar' R5868 which had stood as RAF Scampton's gate guardian, had been relocated to the Bomber Command Museum which was under construction at Hendon. PA474 had been taken to RAF Coltishall from RAF Waddington, leaving Lincolnshire and the East Midlands without a Lancaster. The Committee requested that when PA474 was due to retire that she should be brought back to Lincolnshire. The projected flying life span in the 1970's was not expected to last more than 5 years! Today there is talk that the flying life of the Lancaster could be another 50 years! A request was also made that the Lincoln City Coat of Arms be placed on the nose of the Bomber to identify the link between the county and the area.
The Committee was successful, not only was PA474 returned to the county, but its operating unit (BBMF) was transferred to RAF Coningsby. The Lancaster was officially adopted by The City of Lincoln a few years later.
Following a request from the RAF to help produce the hardware that made the fitting of the mid-upper turret possible, it was decided to change the name of the Committee and invite public membership. Registered Charity status was achieved, and today the Association with nearly 6000 members worldwide, continues to give invaluable support to the Flight.
Today the Association owns two of Avro's most famous airframes, both standing in the open at Newark Air Museum, a Shackleton WR977 and a Vulcan XM594, both from the pen of Avro's design genius Roy Chadwick CBE, who was of course responsible for the Lancaster.