More than 440,000 visit RAF Museum Cosford over last year
It is a celebration of the nation's military aviation history, and the region's Royal Air Force Museum has seen a huge increase in visitors over the past year.
More than 440,000 people visited the RAF Museum in Cosford last year, it has been revealed, with the figure representing a 20 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
It comes as the RAF's London museum has also seen a spectacular rise in visitors following a major redevelopment.
In total, 989,593 people visited both the RAF Museums from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019 – growth of 39 per cent on the previous year’s figures.
The museum’s London site recorded 544,628 visitors, up 59 per cent on the previous year, while Cosford welcomed 444,965 visitors, a leap of 20 per cent.
Maggie Appleton, CEO for the museum said that the figures were a result of hard work and an effort to inspire people on the RAF's centenary.
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She said: “This growth is a fabulous response to the huge investment that the museum made in the redevelopment of our London site in 2018 and a reflection on the public’s support for the RAF during the UK’s commemorations of the RAF Centenary.
"It also reflects how the museum’s new vision of inspiring everyone with the RAF story – the people who shape it and its place in our lives – has struck a resonant chord with both our long standing visitors and those new to the museum."
Mrs Appleton said that the effort to attract more visitors had involved events and activities to bring more people in.
She said: "This was achieved by sharing RAF stories through our collections in new immersive ways, with inspiring exhibitions, in landscaping that recalls our aviation heritage, and across our fabulous event and activity programmes.
"I should like to take this opportunity to thank all our funders, in particular the National Lottery Heritage Fund, BAE Systems, the State of Kuwait and the Libor Fund, whose major contributions ensured this success, as well as each member of our team who contributed so much passion and hard work to ensure that the museum enjoyed its most successful year ever.
"It is a very fitting tribute to the men and women who serve the RAF so valiantly today that so many people explored their stories and those of the people who came before them during its centenary year.”
The Royal Air Force Museum is open daily from 10am. Admission is free.