News from 2009
Museum named as top event for 2009
Staff at Culture 24 (previously known as the 24 hour museum) were asked to name their top exhibition or event as a round up to 2009.
Ruth Harper, Marketing and Network Communicator, said "a personal, curator-led tour of the Anson Engine Museum during Museums at Night is my top pick."
"The curator and his wife are great people, passionate about what they do - and their museum reflects this. Also, anything that goes flash or bang in the dark (like a combustion engine, for instance) is worth seeing."
Nominations by the other Culture 24 staff can be seen here.
Also an MBE for a life member of our Friends
Tony Green who volunteers at Shirley's Bone Mill, Etruria has been awarded an MBE for all his work. Many congratulations Tony - well deserved.
The official wording is :- Charles Anthony GREEN For voluntary service to Industrial Heritage in the Staffordshire Potteries. (Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire)
MBE for services to Industrial Heritage
Geoff Challinor our Chairman received a massive accolade from Buckingham Palace when he heard he was to be awarded an MBE in the New Year 2010 Honours List for services to Industrial Heritage. He has devoted his life to engines and engineering so this recognition is a fitting tribute for all his hard work.
The first he knew about it was when he opened a letter about six weeks ago saying the Prime Minister was proposing to submit his name to The Queen and asking if he would accept the honour if it was granted. Sorry if we kept you in the dark but as the letter was in strict confidence he has been unable to tell his family, friends and museum volunteers until now. It has been one of the hardest secrets he has ever had to keep. (If you think that was hard, it has nearly killed Margaret keeping it quiet until now!!)
Geoff described the moment as one of the proudest in his life “There are so many amazing names on the New Year Honours list, it's something I'll treasure for the rest of my life. I am honoured and humbled to be recognised in this way. It's absolutely fantastic news and I am proud to accept it not just on my behalf, but as an acknowledgement of the skill and ingenuity of the people who have left us a wonderful Industrial Heritage legacy.”
Back to work for our volunteers
Making the most of the snow free days between Christmas and New Year some of our hard-working volunteers returned to the museum to progress the new entrance area. Despite the temperature never going above 2° they were determined not to let the work fall behind schedule. Thank goodness there are plenty of inside jobs to be done. Click here to see conditions outside.
Visitors will see a transformed reception/tea-room/shop area when they arrive over the 2010 season. Additionally a new orientation area is being added which will tell visitors about the museum, suggest the best way to go around the exhibits and what time(s) any special events and talks will be given.
More details of the events featured throughout the 2010 season will be added to our Events area soon. The museum reopens on Easter Sunday and Monday from 10:00 - 17:00.
