Giving something back

A business that already does a huge amount to support the Memorial has signed up as the latest silver sponsor of this clifftop tribute to ‘the Few’.

Early Birds is a bespoke property conversion and listed building renovation company that has been creating dream homes in Kent and East Sussex for more than 30 years.

Alongside its ‘day job’ building luxury homes, the 25-strong team also devotes itself to supporting the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust in its determination to remember the heroes of the 1940s conflict at its Capel-le-Ferne home.

Led by the three directors, Stuart and Sharon Benjamin and Lee Howard, the Early Birds crew supports the Trust with a wide range of tasks at events such as Memorial Day in July – free of charge.

Stuart explained why a team that already does so much voluntarily should also want to join the Trust’s growing list of corporate sponsors.

“We welcome every opportunity to support the Trust and the Memorial because of what it stands for and because it is a way of giving something back in memory of all the veterans who risked, and in many cases sacrificed, their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he commented

“Why would any business not want to get involved with something like this? It’s our history. The Trust needs as much help as it can get as it doesn’t receive any government support of any kind and we feel honoured to be able to play our part.

“As a company we show passion in everything we do – from providing great homes for our customers through to showing support for the Trust and respect for the men whose sacrifices they honour here at the Memorial.”

Lee Howard has a particularly strong link with the Memorial, having played a major part in the construction of the iconic Wing visitor centre, home of The Scramble Experience, while working for the company that built it and before joining Early Birds.

 “I have a real affinity with the building and it’s a privilege to still be involved, as a director of Early Birds, in supporting the charity and its great work here at Capel-le-Ferne,” he said.

Stuart, Lee, memorial manager Jules Gomez and Sharon