Podcasts about raf museum

Britain and its allies fought Nazi Germany for a gruelling four and a half years in all, but once allied ground troops landed in Europe, creating the Western Front, they completed the victory in just eleven months.Kate and Mike are joined by Dr Meghan Kellegher from the RAF Museum to explain the strategy which led to victory, and what the allies got wrong as well as right.VE Day wasn't the end of World War Two. Military historian Lucy Betteridge-Dyson tells us how thousands of British troops, including her grandfather, still faced months of fierce fighting in Burma, and were still deployed two years later.And after Ukrainian troops joined UK commemorations of VE day, we ask whether the conflicts raging today could become the catalyst for a third global war, and how that risk can be minimised.

The world's first independent air force owes its survival and shape to its ‘father', Hugh Trenchard. We explore how with the RAF Museum's Dr Harry Raffal. Described as ‘the architect and patron saint of modern air power', Marshal of the RAF Viscount Hugh Trenchard (1873–1956) was the first Chief of the Air Staff (January–April 1918 and 1919–1930). An army officer badly wounded in the Boer War, he was among the first British military pilots and the frontline commander of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. The RAF was formed on 1 April 1918, and Trenchard set firm foundations for its survival and development, often against bitter hostility from the other Services. His administrative skills, realism, tenacity and willingness to be unpopular created an organisation that saved the nation during the Battle of Britain. His friend TE Lawrence (Season 3, Episode 7) argued that ‘The RAF is the finest individual effort in history. No other man has been given a blank sheet and told to make a Service from the ground up. It is your single work…' Following retirement from the RAF, Trenchard was appointed as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, where he set about a substantial reform agenda with the same single-mindedness. Dr Harry Raffal is Head of Collections and Research at the RAF Museum. His doctorate, from the University of Hull, explores RAF and Luftwaffe operations during the evacuation of Dunkirk. He is a Committee member of the RAF Historical Society and the British Commission for Military History, and Vice-Chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aeronautical Heritage Group.

November 2024 The crews of RAF Bomber Command had one of the most hazardous jobs of the war. Flying by night to their targets in occupied Europe, they were alone and vulnerable to the prowling German night-fighters.  Helping them reach their targets was one of the least-known, but most significant achievements of the signals intelligence operation at Bletchley Park. Analysis of the night-fighters' communications revealed priceless insights into the German defensive system – and how it could be evaded, outwitted and ultimately manipulated. In this ‘It Happened Here' episode, Bletchley Park Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham tells us about one of Bletchley Park's most important contributions to Britain's total war against Nazi Germany. Many thanks to Mr Lindsay Spence for voicing our archival documents. Image: Herbert Olivier, Operations Room: Bomber Command Conference. Oil on canvas, 1944. From the Collection: Air Historical Branch, MOD, on long loan to the RAF Museum as part of the Second World War Official War Artists' collection. #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #WW2, #Enigma, #BomberCommand,

Welcome to episode 522!  In this week's show we have investigations into 737 rudders, a round-up of London airports, Ryanair is having a big summer blow-out, and we find out how Microsoft's millions are helping restore the AN-225.     In the military news we have a story about a new tow-bar for the B-52, and Virgin Atlantic are teaming up with the RAF Museum in London.  You can get in touch with us all at : WhatsApp +44 757 22 491 66 Email podcast@planetalkinguk.com or comment in our chatroom on YouTube.

Jane and James discuss their upcoming talks at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Second World War History Festival in July, and  introduce their guests, Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper, from the RAF Midlands Museum. Megan and Rab discuss the challenges of presenting the Air War to modern audiences, including the ethical questions surrounding strategic bombing in the Second World War. They also talk about the importance of engaging with younger generations and the evolving nature of memory and scholarship. The conversation covers various topics related to the RAF Museum and the memory of the air war in Britain. The hosts and guests discuss the importance of museums in preserving history and honouring the memory of those who served. They also mention specific objects and aircraft on display at the museum, such as Wing Commander Guy Gibson's medals and the V Bombers, and even Douglas Bader's legs! The conversation touches on the emotional impact of memorials and the stories behind them. They also talk about the research projects and exhibitions at the museum.KeywordsWe Have Ways of Making You Talk, Second World War, History Festival, talks, RAF Midlands Museum, strategic bombing, ethical questions, scholarship, heritage sector, presenting the story, generational shifts, challenges, modern audiences, engagement, technology, living memory, access to objects, conservation, artificial intelligence, public history, heritage sector, bombing war, memory, air war, museums, objects, aircraft, memorials, research projects, exhibitionsChapters00:00 Introduction and We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival03:03 Guest Introduction: Dr. Megan Kelleher and Rab Cooper07:21 The Ethical Questions of Strategic Bombing19:09 Memory, Scholarship, and Keeping Exhibitions Relevant21:14 Challenges of Engaging with Younger Generations25:45 The Importance of Museums in History Education27:18 Memory of the Air War and Conceptualizing Memorials31:51 Researching and Remembering Ancestors36:44 Favourite Objects and Aircraft at the RAF Museum43:18 Personal Stories and Emotional Connections49:58 Future Plans for the Museum51:06 Upcoming Episode: Researching  Your Bomber Command AncestorSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters receive invitations to participate in our recording sessions as an audience member. Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

100 year old  RAF veteran Tom Davidson shares his experiences of flying on a Halifax in 1944-1945. In this episode of Never Mind the Dam Busters, Jane and James discuss the Handley Page Halifax, an unsung hero of Bomber Command. They delve into the evolution of the Halifax, from the 'death-trap' early Marks to the magnificent Mk III, and its role in strategic bombing, mine laying, and other operations during World War II. They also interview Tom Davidson, a flight engineer with 466 Squadron, who shares his experiences of flying in the Halifax and the strong bond he had with his crew. Funny, moving, and tragic - this is an episode you won't want to miss - and how can you not love that Geordie accent? Watch out for photos of Tom, his pilot Pat and the rest of the crew on our social media. You can read more of Tom's story, and about the Halifax and the men who flew it,  in Jane's book, Above Us The Stars. If you'd like to see a real Halifax (well, a reconstructed one), visit Yorkshire Air Museum and Friday the 13th. You can even go on a tour of the inside (well worth it!) Details here There's also S-Sugar at the RAF Museum in Hendon, still in the same state as when it was fished out of a Norwegian fjord...a very thought-provoking sight.   Keywords Handley Page Halifax, Bomber Command, strategic bombing, mine laying, World War II, flight engineer, air crew, sacrifice, Royal Air Force , Arthur HarrisSupport the Show.Please subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get show transcripts and a shout-out, plus an invitation to participate in our recording sessions as an audience member. Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here

Do you know what a great early-stage customer looks like? Customer-side Visionaries like Dara Howley of the RAF Museum (speaking In this episode with Ashley Staines about her selection of Volunteero) might not be common, but they are evenly distributed across society. If you're doing and saying the right things in any market, you will get opportunities to execute your Vision by serving them. Visionary customers are special people who care more about their cause than internal politics, and are accordingly willing to take calculated risks on new vendors in service of a greater good. In this episode of the First-time Founders Podcast, Dara explains the key criteria for winning her backing: VISION: In Dara case with Volunteero, she was looking for a Volunteer Management software provider totally committed to superior design and usability on the front end, and comprehensive reporting on the back end FOCUS: Genuine obsession about improving the volunteer experience (vs generic HR platforms who can 'play at' volunteer management) SERVICE/PROCESS: Volunteero have a Proven Process for listening to client feedback and continuously releasing new features. Thanks to Dara and Ash for letting us observe 'the why and the what' underpinning their innovation partnership. If you have (or know of) a similar founder-customer relationship or story, we'd love to hear from you! Interested listeners can reach Rob (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertliddiard/) at Rob@mission-group.co.uk (or to book some free time with, visit https://www.eosworldwide.com/rob-liddiard). First-time Founders on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hcdluu5ywrZ6qFhhI8EVH?si=840a4f564e6d4ea4 First-time Founders on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0SfnHZhV747su-Wnd-9Z0Q First-time Founders on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/first-time-founders/id1697488388

Adam's off to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Hendon! There, he meets Toni who discusses the new exhibition 'Higher, Faster, Further' and the educational resources available for families. Rob, the public events manager, explains why the museum is great for kids and families, mentioning the upcoming Easter holidays events which will focus on science, technology, engineering, and maths, featuring a planetarium, science shows, and a paper aeroplane designing contest.  The museum offers various interactive elements, such as digital trails, backpacks with exploration tools, and a themed outdoor play area. The site is recommended for a two to three-hour visit or a full day for an in-depth experience.Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Form 414, my RAF Logbook continues with me leaving Australia and the Hornet unhappily in my rear vision mirror as I was heading back to Blighty and a cold winter in Lincolnshire.  No 229 Operational Conversion Unit was the training unit that would give me my first taste of the Mighty Fin, the Swing Wing Super Jet, Mother Riley's Cardboard Aeroplane otherwise known as the Air Defence Variant of the Tornado.   Not just a British aircraft, the Tornado was a project involving Germany and Italy as well.   A cutaway of the ADV Tornado   Just some of the multitude of limitations that Tornado pilots were required to memorise   The Tornado cockpit showing the wing sweep lever   The Mighty Fins of 43 and 111 Squadrons   The RB199 lacked sufficient thrust to allow the F3 to perform adequately at medium and high level but it did have a way of going backwards!   Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Surruno, Panavia, BAe, the RAF Museum, Mike Freer, Kevan Dickin, Chris Lofting and the RAF.

As the Global Workforce Leader at PwC, Peter Brown brings a wealth of experience and leadership insights. In this special episode, we delve into his journey, navigating the evolving global workforce, and uncovering the essence of effective leadership.  [00:38] - About Peter Brown Peter is a global workforce leader at PWC. He is passionate about promoting workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion. Peter has a background in the Royal Air Force and continues to support them as an ambassador for the RAF Museum. He was appointed MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by the late Queen Elizabeth II in the year 2000. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbcy/support

Guest: Darren Priday, Manager of the RAF Museum's Conservation Centre Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 11th of July 2023 Published: 18th of November 2023 Duration: 46 minutes, 39 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visited the terrific Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, at RAF Cosford, with friend Nigel Hitchman, and he met the Manager of the RAF Museum's [...]

John Watts never knew his father. He was conceived days before his father, Wing Commander Joseph Watts, was killed on a bombing mission over occupied Europe. He left behind a daughter, and also an unborn son. But, recently John discovered that at the RAF Museum at Cosford, they have one of the very few surviving Hampdens which is being restored. The plane is from the very squadron his father flew in. Dan accompanied John to the museum for the emotional visit which he hoped would bring closure after 80 years of pain.Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code DANSNOW - sign up now for your 14-day free trial http://access.historyhit.com/checkout?code=dansnow&plan=monthly.We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.You can take part in our listener survey here.

In episode 106, we're off to discover Air Force History at the RAF Museum in London. The Royal Air Force Museum in London offers a fun, entertaining day out for all the family. And, entry is free. After listening to the podcast: PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW on iTunes or your favorite podcast client. We would really appreciate it! SUBSCRIBE to The Places Where We Go Podcast: The Places Where We Go Travel Podcast is released every other week in your favorite podcast app. WEBSITE & BLOG www.theplaceswherewego.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theplaceswherewego TWITTER / X: https://twitter.com/theplaceswhere1 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlacesWhereWeGo EMAIL: Write to us at comments@theplaceswherewego.com GEAR WE USE: The Places Where We Go Amazon Storefront We'll see you at the places where we go. Julie & Art   AFFILIATE LINK DISCLOSURE The Places Where We Go contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read our disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.

The RAF Museum sites at Hendon in London and RAF Cosford in the Midlands are home to a collection that tells the century-old story of the RAF. It is where my obsession with the Hawker Typhoon began and where I returned a couple of weeks ago to chat with the museum's CEO, Maggie Appleton. The RAF Museum has a broad story, so how does the museum manage the expectations of a wide variety of visitors of an ever-changing demographic? I sat down over a cup of tea and biscuits to discuss the museum's role, its present post-COVID and its future in the guise of its plans outlined in Strategy 2030. Yes, the Typhoon gets a mention or two.★You can learn more about the RAF Museum, its collection and what events they have coming up through their website: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/★Follow the RAF Museum on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/RAFMJoint★Follow the RAF Museum on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/rafmuseum/★Follow the RAF Museum on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/RAFMUSEUM★Catch the latest videos from the RAF Museum on their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/RAFMuseum★You can hear my visit to the RAF Museum's Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, discussing Bomber Command's early days in the Second World War, from History Hack Hedge Hopping days here: https://www.thedamcasterspod.com/hedge-hopping/#raf-museumPlease check out the latest from our sponsor, the Pima Air and Space Museum, through the links below:★Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum's website here: https://pimaair.org/★Learn more about the Titan Missle Museum here: https://titanmissilemuseum.org/★Find out who is in the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame here: https://pimaair.org/about-us/arizona-aviation-hall-of-fame/★Want to know how the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum is progressing? Find out more here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/★Fancy becoming a Damcasteer? Join the fun on Patreon! Join from just £3+VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt and grab some merch. Click here below for more info: https://www.patreon.com/thedamcastersThe Damcasters © 2022 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is no doubt that the UK is a nation of curry lovers, curry addicts even, with many of our best, and biggest nights out happening in Indian restaurants.   They are a huge player in the UK food industry. Estimates vary, but one trade group suggests curry houses employ 100,000 people and have annual sales of £4.2 billion.  And that's not even counting supermarket sales, recipe book sales, and so on.    The impact on our food culture is immense. And the UK is not alone. In so many parts of the world, there's a big curry culture. Whether you're sitting under palm trees in Durban, or on a night out in Glasgow, you're part of a global curry scene. And with this global spread comes a fascinating history, bringing together centuries of trade, immigration, colonisation and culinary innovation. But how do you define a curry? Why has this amalgamation of cuisines become so popular? And what does the future hold? Listen to the full episode to find out why the British in particular have fallen in love with curry, how curry powder first emerged, and how curry has travelled around the world and influenced so many dishes. Shrabani Basu, Journalist and Author Shrabani Basu is a journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author. Her books include the critically acclaimed The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer: Arthur Conan Doyle, George Edalji and the Foreigner in the English Village, For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front 1914-18, Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant (now a major Oscar-nominated motion picture starring Dame Judi Dench and Ali Fazal) Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan, and Curry: The Story of the Nation's Favourite Dish.  She is the founder and chair of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust which campaigned for a memorial for the World War II heroine in London. It was unveiled by Princess Anne in 2012. She is an ambassador for the RAF Museum in London.  Shrabani is a frequent commentator on radio and television on Indian history and Empire. She has featured on BBC Saturday Kitchen and appeared on Heston Blumenthal's programme on Channel 4.  Lizzie Collingham, Historian and Author Lizzie Collingham is an independent historian who uses food as a way of linking the minutiae of daily life to the broad sweep of historical processes.  She is the author of Imperial Bodies: the physical experience of the Raj c.1800–1947, Curry: a tale of cooks and conquerors, The Taste of War: World War II and the battle for food, The Hungry Empire: how Britain's quest for food shaped the modern world and The Biscuit: the history of a very British indulgence.  She is currently a Visiting Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Peter Johnston is the Head of Collections and Research at the Royal Air Force Museum in London, a position that requires him to be an active researcher and work with the academic and military communities, and get to play with really cool airplane stuff! Before joining the RAF Museum, Peter was the Head of Collections, Research, and Academic Access at the National Army Museum in London (where he also got to play with really cool stuff!). He has also worked as a researcher for the Centre for Social Justice, and his work primarily involved researching governmental policies and their impact on UK veterans as they transitioned back into civilian life. Peter also served as a research assistant for the British Library's Propaganda, Power, and Persuasion exhibit back in 2013. He's a teacher as well. He held a visiting lecturer position at the University of Westminster and was an assistant lecturer at the University of Kent. Peter earned his undergraduate and MA degrees in History at the University of Durham and then a PhD at the University of Kent. His doctoral dissertation examined the British armed forces in the Falklands War. Peter's first book, British Forces in Germany, 1945-2019: The Lived Experience was published in 2019. He has also published on propaganda associated with military recruitment and museum collections. Peter has a considerable media presence, and his commentary has been featured on BBC, in The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Express, BBC Breakfast, and Good Morning Britain. You can follow Peter on Twitter @PeteAJohnston. Peter's roles as a researcher and a curator give him some valuable insight into what's going on with military history and public history, and we're thrilled to have him joining us from across the pond. So join us for a truly fascinating chat that involves Spitfires, Airfix Kits, Chinooks, Six Nations Rugby, the Bekonscot Model Village, and, of course, the BBQ Question! Postscript - Peter delighted in Italy's victory over Wales in the Six Nations Rugby! Rec.03/16/2022

Air Law is something that all pilots must have some knowledge of or they wouldn't be awarded a licence or certificate… it's required knowledge. Having said that, it's a long way from being simple and even a qualified Air Transport pilot will only have scratched the surface. In the Air Force, one might have assumed that things would have been pretty tight and mutiny unheard of. Let me set you straight! Early balloons     An aircraft Commander   The Signals Corps in a balloon basket   The Freeman Field mutiny   Lt Bill Terry   The RAF in Karachi   The RAF mutiny   Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Library of Congress, US Army,the RAF and the RAF Museum.

With museums set to reopen on May 17 (fingers crossed!), we chat to Darren Priday at the RAF Museum at Cosford...

Join us as we welcome in the autumn season with a rather spooky episode of The Faerie Folk! Learn all about the history of Halloween and how the festival we know and love came to be. Then travel to Shropshire to find out about the pilot who supposedly haunts the Arvo Lincoln plane in Cosford's RAF Museum - and finally discover the story behind the strange glowing phenomena known as the Will O' the Wisp. There's more myths and magic waiting for you over on social media too: Twitter: twitter.com/thefaerie_folk  Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefaerie_folk/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefaeriefolk/ The music featured in today's episode is 'Galway' by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3795-galway License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ *December 2020 Update*: Travel between United Kingdom locations is currently discouraged due to COVID-19 restrictions. The travel information provided in this podcast is designed as a guide for future travel plans once restrictions have eased. If you are planning on travelling, please check the information provided by local authorities beforehand and adhere to local guidelines once there. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Penny and Bonn visit the RAF Museum in Hendon, talk about the Michael Hutchens documentary and unpack a delivery of vintage board games.

The aircraft described has since been moved from the RAF Museum, London to the RAF Museum, Cosford. The 'thumbnail' image shows it in its new home. 

The Midland Air Museum, Coventry has preserved an example of the F.6 version of the BAC (formerly, English Electric Co Ltd) Lightning. Even today the aircraft looks 'modern', with its highly swept wings and angular lines. The last of the RAF's interceptors, and a classic jet fighter. Please note that the 'thumbnail' photograph shown here is of a preserved Lightning F.1, on display at the RAF Museum, Cosford, as part of the National Cold War Exhibition.

 This flying replica of a Vickers F.B.5 'Gunbus' is on display in the Grahame White Factory at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London

A bonus episode of the podcast, exploring Mat's recent visits to Bletchley Park, the RAF Museum and Paris.

"At the RAF Museum, Kris Hendrix had such a wealth of information it was impossible to weave it all into the main narrative. Here is just some of what I had to leave out!"

How does a stateless Jew in a nazi occupied country not only escape but go on to serve in the RAF? Andrew Evans finds out more about his mysterious grandfather as well as the fate suffered by the rest of his family, noting some inescapable modern day parallels. Contributions from Professor Philippe Sands QC and Kris Hendrix of the RAF Museum in Hendon. Abstracts of immigration documents by www.antecedentia.com "Doing nothing is not an option!"

During World War 2, for the bomber pilots, getting shot down over enemy territory was far from the only risk that they faced.  In England, Bomber Command and the Eighth Air Force suffered significant losses when returning to their bases only to find that they were fogged out.  This is the story of FIDO.   Images under Creative Commons license with thanks to Goodchild A, the Imperial War Museums, the RAF Museum and UK Gov.

During the First World War about 2 billion letters were delivered by the British army postal service and in 1917 alone 19,000 mailbags crossed the Channel every day. ​This correspondence was a vital means of reassuring sweethearts, wives and mothers of continuing love and care. ​Historian, Hayley Louise, of the University of Worcester, has studied archives of letters and cards between men at the Front to women from Worcestershire and the surrounding counties. ​In the first of a series of three audio podcasts she explores how mothers, wives and soldiers at the Front sought and gained reassurance from this intimate exchange of news and feelings. Acknowledgements: The private collection of Sean Brown. Monica Parker daughter of Arthur Chaytor Pepper. Letters archived within the RAF Museum, Cosford.  Keywords: Women, World War I, Worcestershire

If you had to buy your weekly food without it being packaged and wrapped in plastic how would you manage? Tracey Logan reports on how she avoided using plastic for the 40 days of Lent. In a message released for Easter Sunday, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham argues the moral case for businesses to pay the real 'Living Wage''. Alex Chalk the Conservative MP for Cheltenham tells Edward he has written to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, asking them to conduct a separate investigation into the Jehovah's Witnesses after a growing number of people come forward with complaints about the organisation. A Service of Hope at Westminster Abbey will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the civil rights leader Martin Luther King. So what of his legacy today? Was King's idea of how to achieve a society based on 'justice, equal opportunity, and love of one's fellow human beings', flawed? The theologian Robert Beckford and academic Kehinde Andrews debate. The University of Sheffield in collaboration with the Church of England and the BBC's Daily Service has developed the prototype for a priestly robot that can perform services for all occasions. Rosie Dawson meets the robot that's about to be rolled out across rural parishes. The Easter story presents some challenging themes for RE teachers and school assemblies. Sarah Major reports on how some schools approach the brutality of the Crucifixion and the complexity of the Resurrection in their lessons. On Easter Sunday, the RAF celebrates its centenary. Peter Devitt, from the RAF Museum tells Edward more about the history of the different faith groups who have served over the past 100 years. Producers: David Cook Rajeev Gupta Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Today the RAF has a history. An element of the contemporary RAF’s challenge is to innovate, while grappling with the legacy of one hundred years of existence and experience. In 1918 it did not have a history and this may well have been one of its most significant advantages. The newly-created RAF had to fight not only for its survival but to create a culture and sustainable pedigree with very little legacy. In this lecture, Sophy Gardner explores the nature of this advantage to the RAF in its early years.

Albert Ball was England's greatest WW1 fighter ace at the time of his death in may 1917 with 44 victories to his name. His last mission was flying an RAF SE5 on the Western Front and he was only 20 years old when he died. He was highly decorated with the the VC, DSO & two bars, MC, Legion d'Honneur and Order of St George. Clare Paul from the RAF Museum will take a look at the life and career of Albert Ball and we are pleased that two of his known relatives Vanda and Gordon Day answer questions about him and the life of a WW1 fighter pilot.