Honorary President: Professor Richard Holmes

Tickets are now on sale for our next talk - David Fletcher, from the Tank Museum - this may be your last chance to hear him speak before he retires, so book early!  Further details on 'Next Event' tab

************************************************************************************************************************

The Museum of Lincolnshire Life is hosting an exhibition on  The Great War from September 11 through to November 2010 - and in addition a number of Friends of the Tank will be exhibiting artefacts at the Museum on Saturday 11 September - please come along and have a look.

************************************************************************************************************************

Friends of the Lincoln tank had a display at the Lincoln Steam Fair August 2010 showing the full size sponson now updated to include internal modelling.  In particular were the newly added ammunition rack complete with 6lb shells, details to the barbette stand and the internal space now painted in white as per the actual tank. It's interesting to note how little room there is inside one of these machines!"

*************************************************************************************************************************
Our efforts to build a replica Mk IV tank have caused huge interest in the world of historic military vehicles and have now hit the national press with a full page spread in the August 2010 issue of Military Machine International magazine. Ian Young and the good folk at MMI are obviously all in favour of a full scale working replica tank being built by Friends of the Lincoln Tank and we thank them very much for their enthusiasm. If you haven't got your copy yet, don't delay.

*************************************************************************************************************************

Friends of the Lincoln Tank have been contacted by a group of concerned residents who are worried that Wickham Gardens in Lincoln is about to be sold by the council for redevelopment. The gardens were the site chosen for display of the Lincoln Presentation Tank in 1919, so we have an interest in seeing that the gardens continue to be an open public space instead of a housing development. The area is not only of great historical interest, it is a valuable green space, much used by parents with their children and we at Friends of the Lincoln Tank wholeheartedly support the campaign to save Wickham Gardens. Watch this space for further news.

**************************************************************************************************************************

We will be at the Lincoln Steam Rally on Sunday 22 August - please come and say hello and have a look at the sponson!

**************************************************************************************************************************

Saturday 26th June saw the return of the hugely popular National Armed Forces Day with events honouring our fighting men and women happening all over the country. Friends of the Lincoln Tank were honoured to attend the event at Lincoln Castle and we were given a prime spot at the Castle's East Gate alongside a wonderfully restored wartime Bedford Lorry, several Willys Jeeps and a pristine Universal Carrier.

The weather was terrific and so was the welcome we received from the good folk of Lincoln. We took our replica Mk IV armourment sponson along with us and I am delighted to say that the majority of those we spoke to were fully aware of the connection between Lincoln and the first tanks. Furthermore, without exception, everyone we met was very much in favour of our ambitious plan to create a full size working replica Great War tank. If people needed an idea of what our final machine will look like, Ian and Betty Douglas were both also in attendance inside the Castle along with Ian’s fabulous ¼ scale Female Mk IV remote controlled tank.

You need only have looked at the line of people filing in and out of the Castle grounds to see how popular the event was and how much support there is for our forces personnel working both at home and abroad. Friends of the Lincoln Tank feel hugely privileged to have been part of the event and would like to thank the public for being so enthusiastic and Malcolm Douse for letting us attend the event.  

*********************************************************************************************************************

n the 29th and 30th May 2010 Friends of the Lincoln Tank visited the Carrington Steam and Vintage Rally. This was a very special event for us as it marked the public unveiling of our wooden prototype Mk IV tank main armourment sponson. The sponson was created from wood and aluminum with resin rivets in order to investigate construction methods and double check our measurements before we start work in steel. If we can raise sufficient money for the project the next sponson we build will be in steel and all being well, will be followed by the rest of a working, full scale Mk IV tank. The sponson was well received at the Carrington Rally and judging by the response we got from the general public, people are right behind our scheme to create a replica Mk IV tank by 2016. Friends of the Lincoln Tank will be displaying the sponson at Arms Forces Day at Lincoln Castle on 26th June 2010, we'd enjoy meeting you and hearing your views on the project. For further information or to make a donation, please get in touch via the Friends of the Lincoln Tank website. NB see also the Projects Page

********************************************************************************************************************

Ian Walden's talk on 16 May appears to have caused a stir in the local press.  The Lincolnshire Echo have run a spread on Ian's theory regarding Grange Crescent's distinctive rhomboid shape.  If you missed the article, you can read it on the Echo's web site www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

We are at the Carrington Rally at this Whit Weekend - come and say hello!  If you miss us there - we will be at Lincoln Castle Armed Forces Day on 26 June 2010 and also the Lincoln Steam and Vintage Rally on Sunday 22 August.

***********************************************************************************************************************

We were delighted to hear that our friend Phillippe Gorczynski has recently been awarded an MBE and offer him our warmest congratulations

*********************************************************************************************************************

The Friends of the Lincoln Tank are looking forward to mounting an exhibition at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in September  and October 2010.  We will also be hosting a 'Tank Weekend' to launch the exhibition.  Further details to follow.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

BBC's Antiques Roadshow on Sunday 8 November 2009 was filmed at Lincoln Cathedral - there were some very interesting items relating to Fosters and the Lincoln Tank as well as some pertinent historical information

**********************************************************************************************************************

A number of members of the group attended the unveiling of the new Heavy Branch-Machine Gun Corps and Tank Corps memorial at Poelcapelle on 10 October.  The day was both memorable and emotional for all those who went.  Our Chairman, Richard Pullen was honoured to be able to lay our wreath accompanied by the grandson of Captain Clement Robinson  of the Tank Corps, who won the Corps their first VC.  Richard was moved to note that Captain Robinson's grandson was actually wearing that very VC.

Poelcapelle 10 October 2009

Menin Gate 10 October 2009

*********************************************************************************************************

A Geophysical Survey was carried out on Saturday 12 September at the Water Tower, Wickham Gardens, Lincoln to try and locate the site of the resting place of Lincoln's Presentation Tank.  Friends of the Lincoln Tank members Dave and Angie Hibbitt (Grid Nine Geophysics) carried out the earth resistance survey on the grassy area in front of the tower, hoping to be able to find evidence of any remaining plinth or railing under the surface.

More images on 'Projects' Page