MP Mike Tapp urges residents to support at-risk Battle of Britain Memorial

If you stand on the cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne and look out across the Channel, it is easy to understand why the Battle of Britain Memorial belongs here.

Just a few miles from Dover, you are looking towards the same stretch of water that the pilots of 1940 would have crossed as they fought to defend our shores.

The view has changed little, but the world those young men knew has.

That is why this Memorial matters, and having a place of remembrance of this importance on our doorstep is something we should never take for granted.

The Memorial, which was opened by the Queen Mother in 1993, remembers the aircrew who fought in the Battle of Britain.

At its heart is the striking sculpture of a seated pilot, alongside replicas of a Spitfires and Hurricanes which, when I visited recently, brought back excited memories of being a child and learning about these incredible machines.

The Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall which carries the names of almost 3,000 fighter aircrew who flew in the Battle of Britain is also an important feature not to be missed.

It provides a powerful reminder of just how many young men were willing to put their lives on the line to defend our country.

But preserving that history comes at a cost.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust is a charity and relies on donations and public support to maintain the site, care for the Memorial and continue its educational work.

With annual running costs of around £240,000, the scale of that challenge is significant.

Without the generosity of visitors, local people and supporters from further afield, keeping the Memorial open and in good condition would be much harder.

I know that times are difficult for many families and businesses across Dover and Deal.

Household bills remain a concern and people quite rightly have to think carefully about where they spend their money.

But if you are fortunate enough to be able to make a donation, however large or small, I would encourage you to consider supporting the Memorial.

- You can donate here

We can sometimes take places like this for granted because they have been part of our landscape for decades.

Yet the history they preserve is not guaranteed to survive unless we invest in it.

The Memorial gives schools an opportunity to teach young people about the Battle of Britain, while giving visitors the chance to understand the enormous human cost behind the history books.

The men remembered at Capel-le-Ferne were often incredibly young.

They faced an enemy that threatened our country and took to the skies knowing the risks they were taking. Many did not come home.

Their courage helped shape the country we live in today, and their sacrifice deserves to be remembered with more than just words.

That is why I hope people across Dover and Deal will continue to support the Battle of Britain Memorial.

It is part of our local heritage, but its importance reaches far beyond our community.

If we want future generations to understand what the Few did for our country, we need to make sure there is still somewhere for them to go, stand on those cliffs, look across the Channel and remember.

I visited the memorial last week to talk about their situation, and I’m also arranging a meeting with Ministers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to raise the issue.