Gillian lent her support for the campaign to save the Tangmere air control tower at Tangmere airfield. The Tangmere airfield is of great historical significance to the area, having been instrumental in the Battle of Britain during World War 2. The airfield was used during the D-Day invasion of occupied northern France and was the launch point for Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, including tragic heroine Violette Szabo, the 'bravest woman of the war'.
The airfield was also home to the legendary Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader who commanded a squadron at the airfield and it was also the base for Spitfire ace Johnnie Johnson, the RAF's top scoring fighter ace of the war. In more recent history it was where Prince Charles learnt to fly in 1968.
The base was closed in 1970 and most of its buildings were knocked down to create room for housing, however, the former control tower still remains in poor condition.
The campaign to save the Tower is ongoing and is being supported by the Tangmere Aviation Museum, Tangmere Local History Group and the University of Chichester.
