WW2 museum to educate next generation after £40k energy saving

An educational museum in Lincolnshire showcasing historic memorabilia from both world wars is set to save more than £40,000 over the next 20 years, after signing a deal with renewable energy consultants Greenio.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of the ‘We’ll Meet Again’ museum, in Freiston, have future-proofed the registered charity, meaning thousands more schoolchildren will be able to learn about the fight for freedom and sacrifices made during the First and Second World War. The project, which completed following the museum’s first anniversary, will begin to offer savings of more than £2,000 a year.

The museum – which has a 14ft Lancaster bomber, army rationing items and objects from the Home Guard on display – was set up in 2017 by Paul Britchford, who started collecting the items from the age of eight and has since accumulated thousands of artefacts, some of which were used in the upcoming war film Lancaster Skies.

Britchford and his wife, Linda, started as a travelling museum visiting schools across Lincolnshire in an army truck. In 2016, the couple secured a £200,000 grant from the LIBOR Fund in recognition of their educational work with children and opened the static museum – which now welcomes at least two schools a week – a year later.

Museum secretary volunteer Peter Pimperton said: “The solar panels have not only allowed us to be greener, but we’ll also start seeing a reduction on our energy bills – which went through the roof last winter. We’re yet to receive a bill, but since having the solar panels installed, we’ve had days when the electricity meter hasn’t moved as we’ve generated enough power ourselves to run the museum, which is just fantastic.”

Anna Wooster, managing director of Sleaford-based Greenio, said: “It has been great working with Peter and the team at the We’ll Meet Again museum. The new solar panels will help to save the museum money for decades to come, allowing children and the surrounding community to learn more about their local history.

“Everyone who works at the museum is so passionate and dedicated and I’m delighted they will be able to pass on their knowledge about the First and Second World War to future generations, me included, allowing them to be reminded of the fight for freedom and sacrifices made by those before them.”