March 20, 2014 3.41 pm This story is over 120 months old

Rare vintage radio donated to Lincoln school museum

New artefact: A local school collecting wartime memorabilia has scored a rare radio receiver.
The rare R1155 radio.

A project by a Lincoln school to create an archive of RAF material has been improved with a rare new addition.

A rare R1155 Lancaster radio was donated to William Farr School to add to its collection of items, after owner Ian George (50) read about a Lancaster compass being donated to the school previously.

William Farr is creating the archive due to being built on the site of the former RAF Dunholme Lodge.

At present, the secondary school is bidding for Lottery funding to construct a building to house the collectables.

The school is still looking for a World War Two Nissen hut to house the collection before submitting its £100,000 Lottery bid.

The R1155 was a used as communications receiver and with a T1154 transmitter was heavily used in World War II.

George, from Heighington, said the set belong to his late father Kenneth and had been in use by the family until the 1970s.

William Farr head teacher Andy Stones with the radio receiver.

William Farr head teacher Andy Stones with the radio receiver.

He said: “When I read the story I remembered my dad’s radio and thought it was a shame that it was gathering dust so decided to contact the school and donate it.

“I have fond memories of the set. When I was in my late teens my dad rigged up an aerial in the garden and we used to sit and listen to shows from all over the world on the set.

“We’d tune into the Voice of America, a few Eastern European and Russian broadcasts and even a Polish rock station.

“My dad would be glad to see the radio being used in this way and it’s nice to know that his radio is part of a legacy for future generations to remember the war.”

Headteacher at the school, Andy Stones, added: “We are absolutely delighted with the latest addition to our growing collection and are very grateful to the George family for thinking of us.

“We now have a really fascinating archive of the material relating to the RAF and bomber command and determined to create a long-lasting legacy as a constant reminder to our pupils of the brave men and women who worked on this site.

“This hugely generous gift just goes to show how the idea for our museum is really gaining local support and we’d also like to thank the Echo for its help.”