Friends of The Tank Museum Events

As a Friend of The Tank Museum, you are invited to a variety of special visits to other military collections and historical locations. 

Neil Grant, Friend of The Tank Museum and administrator for the Friends Facebook page, has created a fantastic schedule of events for 2024. To keep prices low, these are not exclusively Friends of The Tank Museum events and spaces are limited. Please get in touch with Neil at neilgrant2@yahoo.co.uk with the event you would like to attend and your membership number.

There are a couple of events (at the bottom of the page) which we hope will happen this year, but are still being finalised. If you are interested in any of these, please let us know, and we’ll update you once we have a date.

TIME
ACTIVITY
LOCATION
21 January

Flint Knapping & Stone Stool Making (Near Swindon, £80)

A day with an experimental archaeologist, learning the oldest craft in the world – knapping flint to make a variety of prehistoric stone tools that you can take home at the end of the day

Near Swindon
5 February

An Evening with Jasper Fforde (£15)

The author of the “Thursday Next” series, set in a fictionalised and rather surreal version of Swindon, will be at the Swindon Arts Centre

Swindon Arts Centre
10 February

Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles (£80)

A discussion of the evidence for reconstructing prehistoric textiles then a practical session looking at and practising the techniques for the rest of the day, including making an antler needle to take home

Swindon
18 February

RAF Museum Cosford (Parking Charge)

Little brother of the main RAF museum at Hendon, and with a focus on Cold War aircraft and missiles

Near Wolverhampton
22 February

VR Combat Arena (£30)

Put on VR goggles and pick up your gun, and move through a combat area full of VR threats and special effects – zombies, demons, tax inspectors, that sort of thing.  The gear is all wireless, so you can move freely around the environment.  Multiple different game scenarios are available, so we’ll choose depending on what those coming fancy). Evening event.

Reading
3 March

Axe & Knife Throwing (£45)

A half-day session learning to throw tomahawks, axes and throwing knives.  No previous experience is necessary, and the session will be tailored to the people attending, so if you want you can concentrate on axes or whatever

Near Bath
15 March

Cirque – The Greatest Show (£40)

Big hits from broadway and West End musicals plus circus acts. Evening event.

Swindon
23 March

Candle Making Workshop (£49)

A two hour session learning to make your own scented candles with soya wax and essential oils at a scenic location in the Cotswolds. You will take away the candle you will make during the workshop, and all materials plus tea and coffee are included.

Near Bath
24 March

British Museum Exhibition – “Legion – Life in the Roman Army” (£17)

This is the British Museum’s big annual exhibition for 2024, looking at…well, the clue is in the title.  Based on previous exhibitions, assume it’ll take 2-3 hours

London
11 April

Army Small Arms School (Suggested Donation)

A guided tour around the army’s own gun collection, which contains examples of pretty much every weapon the army has issued, tested or captured since the 1870s.  Even better, it’s a working collection, not a museum, so there will also be a handling session with some of the weapons.

Warminster
20 April

Vickers Machine Gun Collection (£10)

A definite must for anyone with an interest in the Great War, this gives us an afternoon of hands-on access to a very extensive collection of…well, pretty much everything to do with these iconic weapons. The visit will include a talk and handling, as well as setting up a Vickers and firing it with blank ammunition.

Near Swindon
21 April

International Living History Festival (Pay at the Gate)

Lots of historic re-enactment groups and trade stands selling equipment for re-enactors.  The festival is held at the Avoncroft museum of historic buildings in Worcestershire, which includes more than 30 historic buildings rescued from destruction and re-built on the site.

Worcestershire
28 April

Stonehenge Stone Circle Special Access (£15)

This is one of two special stone circle access trips that allows a limited number of people inside the rope barriers around the monument, and into the circle itself.  We get an hour inside the circle for photography etc, and there will be a short, optional talk pointing out some features not normally visible from outside the circle.  Note that this trip is in the early morning before the circle opens to the public and will allow you to visit the exhibition at the visitor centre afterwards, which the evening trip in September won’t.

Stonehenge
12 May

Wartime Britain event at the REME Museum (£8)

This includes a tour of the regular REME museum (which holds a number of specialist armoured vehicles and recovery vehicles) but also vehicles from the reserve collection, which is not normally open to the public and guest vehicles owned by private collectors.  There will also be several 1940s re-enactment groups, talks etc.

Lyneham
15 May

Wells cathedral – chained libraries & mad attics ( £30)

A guided tour of one of the last medieval chained libraries in the morning, then a guided tour of normally inaccessible “behind the scenes” areas of the cathedral, including the roof spaces to see surviving medieval mason’s drafting floors and the singing gallery.  You also have the opportunity to see the cathedral itself, and Vicar’s Close, dating from the 14th century and the oldest inhabited street in Europe still with its original buildings largely intact.

Wells
TBA May

Crofton Beam Engines (£10.75)

A visit to the Victorian static steam engines near Marlborough, which pumped water for the Kennet & Avon canal on a day when the engines are in steam.  Date to be finalised once Crofton confirm their steaming days

Wiltshire
18/19 May

 

Knife making course (£195 / £395)

Forge and sharpen your own knife from scratch and take it home with you at the end of the course.  The one day courses teaches the basics, while the two day course allows more kinds of handles making a sheath etc

Swindon
2 June

Uffington White Horse & Wayland’s Smithy ( Free)

A guided walk covering the Uffington White Horse (probably iron age), Uffington Castle hill fort (definitely iron age) and Wayland’s Smithy long barrow (Neolithic). Note that this visit will involve a certain amount of walking.

Near Swindon
21 June

Fresh Air Sculpture Festival (£10)

A temporary outdoor exhibition of contemporary sculpture, typically with 100+ pieces in addition to a permanent collection, plus a church with two extremely striking Norman doors.

(Note – this is a Friday, so we dodge the crowds, but weekend slots are also available)

Oxforshire
22 June

Vulcan Bomber Experience (£10)

A chance to get on board one of the most iconic British cold war aircraft.  We get a walk around the aircraft with the ground crew, who will talk us through how to arm, fuel and maintain the aircraft.  We will then see the aircraft being powered up from ground power, so we can see control surfaces move, open the bomb bay doors etc.  Finally, we get into the cockpit for a talk from former air crew about flying the aircraft operationally.

Coventry
TBA June

Hands-on Falconry (£70)

A half-day session with a falconry school at a historic property in Northamptonshire.  A half day hands on session with a number of birds, focused mainly on a variety of owls and Harris Hawks.  Definitely one to take the camera for!  Note that this activity is weather dependent – basically, the birds don’t fly in heavy rain. Spectators are allowed, but there is an additional charge.  (Note – As these are very small groups, we’ll arrange the exact date for this once we know who wants to go and what dates work for them. Note that the dates will always be a weekday)

Northants
7 July

Western-style Carbine shooting (£40)

A chance to shoot full bore western style lever action carbines at an indoor range in Birmingham.  The session starts on. .22 semi-automatics to teach the basics, before switching to the full bore (.357 & .44) carbines.   Ammunition is included; you will get around 40-50 shots, with a variety of weapons.

Birmingham
14 July

Castles & Steam Trains (£25 train / £12 castle)

The morning is spent on the Swanage Steam Railway, which will have at least one running steam train plus preserved rolling stock and four preserved or restored stations.  The £25 ticket lets you ride on the steam-drawn train for as much of the day as you like.  The afternoon is spent exploring Corfe Castle and the pretty associated village.  Castle admission is free to NT members.  You are welcome to only do part of the day, if that’s what interests you.

Near Swanage
TBA July

Horse Archery Day (£185)

It starts with a short ground session teaching the special horse archer’s draw before mounting up and learning to apply the knowledge on horseback.  Note that being able to ride to at least a basic level is a requirement for this session, though at beginner level the targets are in a straight line, and the horses are well trained to run straight.  (Note – we’ll arrange the exact date for this, once we know who wants to go and what dates work for them)

Hertfordshire
28 July

Aerospace Bristol (£23)

A museum dedicated to Bristol’s aviation heritage, including the last Concorde and the Red Arrows simulator ride as well as other aviation-related exhibits.

Bristol
TBA August

Horse Riding on the Beach (£120)

Exactly what it says on the tin – a two hour beach ride.  Hack to the beach along quiet roads, then about 45 minutes on the beach, including a couple of long canters before hacking back to the yard.  You do need to be able to ride for this, though the horses are calm and well schooled.  (Note – we’ll arrange the exact date for this depending on tides, once we know who wants to go and what date work for them)

Penzance
TBC August - 17 August

Vintage Bus to Imber Restricted Village (Pay on day)

In 1943, the village of Imber was requisitioned for military training.  The civilian population was never able to return after the war, and the village continued to be used for urban combat training.  As it is in the middle of a restricted military area, it is not normally accessible except for one day a year, when a special service runs trips out to it in vintage red routemaster double decker buses.

Warminster
18 August

Avebury, Silbury & West Kennet (Free)

A guided tour of these related Neolithic monuments in Wiltshire – the stone circle at Avebury, Silbury Hill and the Neolithic long barrow at West Kennet. Note that this visit will involve a certain amount of walking, and that we may cut it short and skip West Kennet if the weather is bad (probably by being too hot, given the date)

Near Devizes
22 August

Gifford’s Circus (£20 – £35)

Probably the UK’s most beloved circus.  Prices depend on seat, and there are lower prices for child tickets.

Marlborough
7 September

Tank Driving Day (£250)

You get to drive four different military vehicles on this half day session – a Chieftain tank, Abbott self-propelled gun, Stormer load carrier and FV432 APC.  No prior experience necessary

Near Winchester
8 September

Fort Nelson (Parking charge only)

Fort Nelson is one of the Victorian forts built to protect the vital Portsmouth dockyards from the landward side, and now holds the artillery collections of the Royal Armouries – everything from medieval cannon to railway guns.  The event includes tours of both the fort and the collection.

Near Portsmouth
21 September

Stonehenge Stone Circle Special Access II (£15)

This is the second of two special stone circle access trip that allows a limited number of people inside the rope barriers around the monument, and into the circle itself.  We get an hour inside the circle for photography etc, and there will be a short, optional talk pointing out some features not normally visible from outside the circle.  Note that this trip is in the early evening after the circle is closed to the public, which may work better for people coming a long way, but means you won’t be able to visit the exhibition at the visitor centre afterwards as you can with the April trip.

Stonehenge
22 September

Axe & Knife Throwing (£45)

A half-day session learning to throw tomahawks, axes and throwing knives.  No previous experience is necessary, and the session will be tailored to the people attending, so if you want you can concentrate on axes or whatever

Near Bath
10 October

Army Small Arms School (suggested donation)

A guided tour around the army’s own gun collection, which contains examples of pretty much every weapon the army has issued, tested or captured since the 1870s.  Even better, it’s a working collection, not a museum, so there unless something goes wrong, there will also be a handling session with some of the weapons.

Warminster
13 October

Vickers Machine Gun Collection (£10)

A definite must for anyone with an interest in the Great War, this gives us an afternoon of hands-on access to a very extensive collection of…well, pretty much everything to do with these iconic weapons. The visit will include a talk and handling, as well as setting up a Vickers and firing it with blank ammunition.

Swindon
9 November

Indoor Skydiving (£80)

This basically uses a wind tunnel standing on its end, with fans powerful enough to suspend you in the air as if you are flying. You start by learning to hold a stable position, then you will be shown how to manoeuvre yourself within the air column and even do aerobatic manoeuvres.  The package includes 4 sessions in the tube, each roughly as long as a free-fall from 18,000 feet

Basingstoke
12 November

VR combat arena (£30)

Put on VR goggles and pick up your gun, and move through a combat area full of VR threats and special effects – zombies, demons, tax inspectors, that sort of thing.  The gear is all wireless, so you can move freely around the environment.  Multiple different game scenarios are available, so we’ll choose depending on what those coming fancy)

Reading
23 November

Escape Room (£30)

Can your team use their analytical and deductive skills to escape from the locked room before the time limit elapses?  Note that there are multiple escape room set ups at the site, so you can pick the game that most appeals to you.

Swindon
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