It was the radio that helped win the Second World War – but it was discovered in a Westcliff charity shop.

southend museum staff with lancaster bomber radio

The radio from a Lancaster bomber was brought into the Shared Space charity shop in London Road, Westcliff and spotted by one of the volunteers. A search on the internet indiated it could be a World War 2 radio from a Lancaster bomber. The shop phoned Southend Museum who visited the next day to confirm the find – a genuine piece of aviaton history. The shop has decided that rather than selling the £250 radio it will be given to Southend Museum to put on display for the benefit of people in Southend.

Peter Dominey, a trustee of Shared Space, said: “We are passionate about making a difference in Southend and this is of enormous local interest. Ecko used to make these radios for the Lancaster Bomber and there was an Echo factory by Priory Park, Southend during the war. We have received an amazing range of quirky, intriguing and valuable donations over the years and this is one of the best – a piece of living history.”

Today there are only 17 surviving Lancaster bombers including the plane which flies as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Southend Museum said, “The radio is quite a find and we are very grateful to Shared Space for their generosity.”

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