A cabinet minister revealed a personal connection with an aircraft museum during a recent fact-finding visit.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden was visiting the de Havilland Aircraft Museum on Friday May 21 when he revealed his grandfather had worked for Handley Page, which de Havilland became a part of, and that he had visited the museum when he was a boy.

Mr Dowden toured the collection of nearly 20 iconic civil and military aircraft, all designed by the Hatfield-based de Havilland Aircraft Company, as part of a fact-finding visit in his dual role of Hertsmere MP and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Mr Dowden added: “It has grown quite a lot since I was last there, and it is a wonderful preservation of the work of the world-leading de Havilland.”

“It is a good family attraction.”

Mr Dowden has overall responsibility for the Arts Council Culture Recovery Fund, which recently made a grant of almost £90,000 to the museum to help reopen its doors this month.

The museum, based at London Colney, preserves the heritage of the de Havilland Aircraft company, which made planes such as the Mosquito fighter bomber and ill-fated de Havilland Comet airliner.

For information click here www.dehavillandaircraftmuseum.co.uk