25 years today, the ban on LGBT+ people serving in the British Armed Forces was removed. 🌈 When in 1967 homosexuality was legalised in British society, at the same time new legislation came into effect which forbade gay personnel from serving in the Armed Forces.
On 12 January 2000 this law was repealed after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it violated Article 8 of the Human Rights Act: the right to a private and family life. ⚖️
During the ban, anyone discovered to be gay could be subjected to arrest, interrogation, examination, imprisonment, and dismissal. To mark this important anniversary, the RAF Museum has been recording the experiences of those affected by the ban, with help from the military charity for dismissed LGBT+ veterans, Fighting with Pride , and the RAF LGBT+ Freedom Network of currently serving personnel. ✈️
Each month we will share the perspectives of a selection of people who will discuss the impact of the ban and their treatment by the RAF at the time, which had a lasting effect on their lives. 💬
Kevin Bazeley joined the Royal Air Force in 1985 and served as a navigator on VC10s and Nimrods. ✈️ In 1994 Kevin was arrested after his lost wallet containing a membership card to the Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club was found and handed back to the RAF. 🏍️ He was subjected to a number of interrogations before eventually being discharged from the service, ending his successful career abruptly and prematurely.
In this anniversary year, the RAF Museum is also developing an artist commission 🎨 co-produced with LGBT+ veterans and personnel, in further collaboration with Fighting with Pride and RAF LGBTQ + Network 🌟
Here is just one snippet from Kevin’s story. To find out more please visit: https://rafstories.org/stories/search?fulltext=Kevin%20Bazeley&source=editorial
#lgbtqia
In a special film for Boxing Day 🎥, Head of Collections and Research, Dr Harry Raffal introduces the harrowing tale of an amazing escape. 🛩️
This film was recorded as part of our RAF Stories project ✈️ which collects and shares personal tales of love ❤️, bravery 💪, humour 😁and friendship 🤝 within the RAF, painting a vivid picture of life within the Service past and present.
Whether you’ve served in the RAF 🛫, or a loved one has 💙, your experiences matter.
It’s simple to contribute: download the RAF Stories app 📱, record your story 🎙️, and send it to us. Your memories will join a growing collection of stories that aid civilian understanding of day-to-day life in the RAF🌟
Start sharing today and help us preserve the legacy of the RAF for the future. 📖✈️
Download the app at: https://rafstories.org/about/raf-stories
🎄This festive season, as families come together, why not share your RAF Story? 🎄
Whether you’ve served in the RAF, or a loved one has, your experiences matter.
The RAF Stories project collects and shares personal tales of love, bravery, humour, and friendship, painting a vivid picture of RAF life past and present.
It’s simple to contribute: download the RAF Stories app, record your story, and send it to us. Your memories will join a growing collection, like Peter Taylor’s inspiring journey from apprentice to Signals Officer in Second World War.
Start sharing today and help us preserve the legacy of the RAF for the future.
Download the app at: https://rafstories.org/about/raf-stories
In the film below Peter Taylor tells the story of one of his training officers - the Squeaky Officer ... 🗣️
Our 2024 Christmas Card pays tribute to the courage and resilience of the RAF personnel and Allied forces who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945.
🎄✨Merry Christmas from all of us at the Royal Air Force Museum! 🎅
😊May your holidays be filled with happiness and festive cheer. 🎁
📅 Please note: We will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, but we will reopen at 10:00am on the 27th of December. 🥳
We look forward to welcoming you this Festive Season 🤗
#TheBattleoftheBulge #rafmuseum #anniversary #ww2 #royalairforce
Chocks Away Gin Tasting – Try Before You Buy! 🍸✈
🎄 Join us for a festive Chocks Away Gin tasting at the RAF Museum Shops this December!
📍 London: Thu 12th Dec, 2 PM – 4 PM
📍 Midlands: Sat 14th Dec, 12 PM – 3:30 PM
🎁 Sip, shop, and save! Enjoy a free gin sample and get 10% off in-store purchases with a voucher during the event.
🍸 Please drink responsibly. Samples are limited to one per person to ensure everyone gets a chance to try.
Every visit supports the RAF Museum (Charity 1197541) and helps preserve the legacy of the Royal Air Force.
Cheers to festive fun! 🥂
🚫 Over 18s only.
🎮 RTX brought their Quadcopter competition to our Midlands site on Tuesday! ✈️
Now in its ninth year, RTX’s Quadcopter Challenge is an annual competition bringing together innovative young minds from across the UK to put their STEM skills to the test.
This year’s theme of 'Extreme Locations: Breaking the boundaries of exploration' challenged the students to dive into the unknown and modify an existing quadcopter design to ensure it can reach extreme locations and gather data. 🌊🔥🌲❄️
🏆 The winning team, Glacial Flyers, beat over 100 teams to the award.
Thank you to everyone attending, and special thanks to our wonderful CEO, Maggie Appleton for taking on a judging role!
#quadcopter #royalairforcemuseum #RTX #Midlands
🧝Don't be an Elf on the Shelf !🫷
🎟️ A few tickets are still available for those ready to kick off their Christmas celebrations this weekend with ELF Cadets! 🌟 Don’t miss your chance to help Santa prepare for his biggest mission of the year! 🎁🎅
🛷 Tickets: £7.50 a child. Adults go free.
👉👉https://lnkd.in/efKwCJmM
This experience is also running at our Midlands site: https://lnkd.in/e5HeqyBg
Experience filmed at our London site. 🏛️
🔍Join us this weekend for another FREE Carrot Hunt. 🔍
Our mischievous elves have stolen Santa's Magic Carrots 🥕 🦌 which help his reindeer see in the dark - just like pilot John "Cat’s Eyes" Cunningham!
Search around the Museum to find our pilot carrot vouchers and bring one to the shop to claim your pilot carrot soft toy. 🎁
There are 🔟 to find each day.
Each voucher has been placed in an easily accessible area, so you don’t need to go over any ropes or enter restricted aircraft. ✨
Good Luck 🍀
Terms and Conditions apply.
🎉Yesterday we marked the 30th Birthday of the National Lottery 🎂
Today in our final video marking the National Lottery's birthday, RAF Museum Volunteer Tim Bracey, gives a quick tour of Hangar 1 at our London site.
Thanks to generous grant from the National Lottery's Heritage Fund in 2016 we were able refit it with two new exhibitions about the RAF in time for the RAF's Centenary in 2018 as part of a larger redevelopment London's site. 🏗️
Once again 'Happy Birthday, National Lottery'.🥳
#NationalLottery30
🥕Over the last few days we've received quite a few questions from people asking what is the relevance of carrots to the RAF and why are we currently running carrot hunts at the Museum at weekends in November🥕.
If you'd like to find out, please watch the video below, we hope you find it illuminating 😺.
To learn more about this weekend's carrot hunt, please visit our website at: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/free-carrot-hunt/ 🥕🏃♂️
🎉Happy 30th Birthday to the National Lottery🎁
In this video, Julie Brierley, Head of Learning and Engagement at our Midlands site wishes the National Lottery a 'Happy Birthday' and gives a very personal thank you to its funding of the Museum's RAF Centenary Project in 2018. 👏
#NationalLottery30
🎉Happy 30th Birthday to the National Lottery 🎂
In this short film Paula Kovacs, Community Engagement Manager for our Midlands site, thanks the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project that benefits children visiting the Museum's Midlands site. 🥳
#NationalLottery30
Our purpose is to tell the story of the R.A.F through its people and collections. Our ambition is to Language. Please use appropriate language. Corrections.
