Lincolnshire based Antiques Centre is bringing RAF History back to one of England’s forgotten airfields at Old RAF Hemswell.
Astra Antiques Centre is an independent Antique Centre based on the largest Antiques Hub in Europe at Hemswell Cliff. What makes the setting even more unique is that the site is a former RAF Air Base. Astra Antiques Centre has been gradually re-introducing the history of the site over a number of years, and this latest project, which was started prior to the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 is their biggest yet.
To the front of Astra Antiques Centre is now a large eight panelled mural to help celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Old RAF Hemswell, which was officially opened and in operation on New Years Eve 1936.
The mural has been hand-painted by artist Gary Brett a Lincolnshire based postman who took the design from a wartime pocket-book comic “Battle Picture Library #874 – Radio Silence”. Gary has spent over a year painting the entire mural at his own house, which as you can imagine was not ideal for the sheer size of the project.
Thankfully though the mural has now been completed and mounted proudly to the front of Astra Antiques Centre. The hope is that the mural brings with it a feeling of inspiration whilst acting as a reminder of what came before and will be seen and enjoyed by everyone who visits the site for years to come.
