Latest news with #WorldWarOne-era
BBC News
24-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Protecting Old Sarum Airfield is about 'protecting our heritage'
Protecting the hangars on an historic airfield after one was gutted by a huge fire is a matter of safeguarding "our national heritage," according to the proprietor of a collection of vintage blaze destroyed the Grade II*-listed hangar three and the neighbouring cafe at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on the evening of 17 Sharpe, of the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, said his first response to the news was "absolute panic" followed by sadness at the loss of people's collection is housed in a neighbouring hangar, but he warned all of the buildings are of the same World War One-era design and could be vulnerable to fire. Speaking to BBC West, Mr Sharpe said: "My immediate reaction was absolute panic."(Colleagues) calmed my down by saying its hanger three, so I suppose my reaction was considerable relief, but then also a certain amount of sadness - people's livelihoods were going up in smoke."He continued: "They are old buildings, we all know the problems with them, but also the number left in the UK now are reduced by another pair and that's really sad.""It's really concerning because the building that we occupy is exactly the same as the one that went up in flames." Mr Sharpe said he and colleagues are now debating whether or not the fire safety systems are sufficient to protect the collection."(We have) a lot of aircraft that are one-offs and if they go they can't be replaced, it's as simple as that."We have to do what ever we can to protect what is effectively our national heritage." Gordon Blamire, founder of Go Skydive, which has the site adjacent to Hangar three and the cafe, was driving back from Heathrow Airport when he heard the news of the said his initial feeling was one of "helplessness"."I got here just as the last of the fire was burning," he said."We just went straight into 'how do we resolve things' - no one was hurt and that's a great starting place." Some of Mr Blamire's staff were still on-site when the fire broke out and were able to rescue some of the Blamire said the business was fortunate because "we are in a place where we've got aircraft and we've got parachutes and we are in a position to carry on operating"."Resilience is a key part of this business, we are going to rebuild and will be open again by Friday," he fire broke out just a week after developers - Old Sarum Airfield Ltd - were given the go-ahead for up to 315 homes to be built there following a battle for permission. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has said its investigations "are likely to carry on well into next week".
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Headlines: Trans rights and fantastic nights
Our pick of local website stories Hundreds of people attended a protest on Bristol's College Green in support of trans rights following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman, Bristol 24/7 At First Sight participant Ella Morgan was among the residents are talking a trip down memory lane after Gloucestershire Live asked them which defunct night clubs they would like to revisit for just one more in Cheltenham and KCs in Gloucester were among the venues clubbers miss the father of a girl with a rare genetic condition who wants an upcoming show from right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins at the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare to be cancelled speaks to the Weston Hopkins recently posted a video mocking people with limb fire that destroyed the World War One-era hangar at Old Sarum airfield features heavily in the Salisbury Journal.A new bakery in Burnham-on-Sea had a sell-out first day, according to the town's news site. The former premises of the Crusty Cob has reopened after being taken on by the owners of nearby bakery Maisey's. Our top three from yesterday Student launches site to match flatmates using AI Demolishing millionaire's 'man cave' cost taxpayer £220k EE worker is seen carrying cat by scruff of neck What to watch on social media The mess left in Bristol's Castle Park following the annual "420" celebration in support of cannabis consumption has caused shock and anger online.A new mural on the side of the former Debenhams store in Swindon by graffiti artist HazardOne is popular and has been praised for bringing a bit of colour to the area.A claim that a van dweller parked on Clifton Downs walking a "big aggressive dog" punched a passer-by has garnered a lot of attention on Reddit.
