Welcome to the 24 Hour Museum news in brief page for the week ending September 14 2008.
12.09.2008 - National Railway Museum acquires Dr Beeching’s Cutters
The man responsible for the largest snip in railway history is to have his scissors accepted into the National Collection at the National Railway Museum (NRM).
The “Beeching Cuts” or “Beeching’s Axe” is the common description for the government’s attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running the railways in the UK.
Dr Beeching was the main author of the now famous report The Reshaping of British Railways, which recommended the removal of local passenger lines that were viewed as unprofitable.
This ushered in a period of massive change in the UK’s railways and his name has for ever more been synonymous with the decimation of the UK's once flourishing branch lines.
Ironically the scissors were made to mark the opening of the re-built Plymouth Station opened by Beeching on the March 26 1962. They were made by T.Hardy & Sons that same year and were kindly donated to the NRM by Beeching’s granddaughter, Ann Bailey.
Along with the scissors a presentation salver engraved with an aerial view of Tinsley Marshalling Yard showing the layout of the yard, buildings and bridges was also donated to the museum.
12.09.2008 - National Portrait Gallery unveils new portrait of Nobel winning scientist
A new portrait of Sir Peter Mansfield by BP Portrait prize winning artist Stephen Shankland has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery.
Sir Peter Mansfield was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2003 for his contribution to the invention of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). His vision and research have made widespread clinical use of the technique a reality.
MRI scanners are today used in hospitals all over the world and it is estimated that over 60 million investigations with MRI are carried out every year.
The fact that the artist Stephen Shankland underwent MRI scans as a baby made him a particularly sympathetic artist to undertake the commission.
12.09.2008 - Museum curators in appeal to identify mystery medals
Staff at St Neot's Museum in Cambridgeshire are appealing for the public help to identify a set of medals that were posted through their letter box last week.
The set of post war campaign medals all belonged to the same man but were given to the museum without any supporting information.
The medals have the name W.W. Birrell on their rims, and were awarded for army service from the end of the 1950s until 1980 in areas such as the Arabian Peninsula, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Radfan, a region of Yemen. It is thought the medals belonged to a soldier in the Intelligence Corps.
If you know anything about the medals please contact St Neots Museum on 01480 388788 or email curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk
11.09.2008 - Battle of Britain memorial unveiled at Museum in Docklands
A maquette by world renowned sculptor Paul Day, commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Britain, has been unveiled at Museum in Docklands.
The bronze model honours the airmen who fought under RAF Fighter Command between July and October 1940, and is being loaned by the Battle of Britain Historical Society.
The macquette, which shows young pilots scrambling to their fighter aircraft takes pride of place in the Docklands at War gallery, which graphically tells the story of the Battle of Britain and the first raids of the German Luftwaffe.
Wartime air raids left the docks ablaze and signalled the start of a ferocious four months of airborne fighting in which 544 Allied and Commonwealth pilots died.
Unveiled on London’s Victoria Embankment by HRH Prince Charles in September 2005 the Battle of Britain Monument is one of London’s most striking pieces of public art.
The full story of the public fund-raising and the creation of the Monument, with a full picture gallery, can be found at the Monument web site www.bbm.org.uk
Attending the ceremony at Museum of Docklands on January 11 were dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Westminster, the Rt. Hon Lord Tebbit, who was the chairman of the Battle of Britain Monument organising committee, and Maurice Djanogly OBE, deputy chairman of the Monument committee and an associate of the Battle of Britain Historical Society.
11.09.2008 - Henry Moore Foundation announces £50,000 grant
The Henry Moore Foundation has announced one of the largest grants in its 31-year history.
A sum of £500,000 has been contributed to the ARTIST ROOMS endowment fund, which helps the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate to acquire works by contemporary artists which are then available as loans to museums and galleries throughout the UK.
ARTIST ROOMS is the name given to the outstanding collection of post-war and contemporary art given to the nation earlier this year by Anthony d’Offay, with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund and Scottish and British governments.
The gift of Anthony d’Offay’s collection included a provision for building an endowment of £5 million. Interest on this sum will be used for the purchase of further ‘rooms’ by important contemporary and emerging artists, ensuring that the collection does not remain static but grows.
It is this ambition that The Henry Moore Foundation recognises and supports with its one-off grant.
10.09.2008 – European particle physics experiments began life in Glasgow
Many people will be waiting with bated breathe to find out what new information emerges about particle physics once the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is switched on today.
Physicists at Glasgow University are today celebrating their role in the development of technology integral to the experiments that will be performed in the vast particle accelerator under the Swiss-French border.
They have more than this however to determine their place in the history of what is the largest scientific experiment ever.
The university was home to the first electron synchrotron (pictured) built in Europe. Although given a name that today sounds like something from a science fiction story and albeit tiny when compared to the 27 km circumference of today’s giant machine under the Swiss-Italian border, the construction of the synchrotron in the 1950s was a fundamental step on the journey towards today’s experiment.
Professor Tony Doyle, Glasgow Particle Physics Experiments Group Leader at the University of Glasgow said: “We are proud of our heritage and continue to innovate whilst recognising that we are standing on the shoulders of giants as we explore ever more deeply into the fundamental constituents of matter.”
Sadly, the synchrotron was broken up when considered obsolete having been overtaken by rapid developments in particle physics during the late 20th century.
09.08.2008 – Bird Painter Wins £4,000 Wildlife Art Award
The Society of Wildlife Artists has announced the winner of the Capmark Europe Award Prize 2008.
Esther Tyson is the recipient of the £4,000 first prize for her Early Beginnings – moorhen nest building.
Two weeks spent watching the moorhens build their nest provided Esther with the subjects for the piece. She said: “I sat on the grass verge and waited. The pair continued their business with little regard to my presence, laid two eggs, hatched two young and continue to inspire.”
Unusually, Esther has also won the RSPB Award for another two pictures – Bullfinch study (female) and Bullfinch study (male).
Runners up, who each receive £500, are Anna Kirk-Smith and Bruce Pearson.
The winning images will be on show at the Mall Galleries from September 24 until October 5 2008. The prizes will be presented to the winners by Germaine Greer on September 23.
The Society of Wildlife Artists Exhibition will be held at The Federation of British Artist's (FBA) Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, SW1 www.mallgalleries.org.uk 020 7930 6844. Admission is £2.50 or £1.50 for concessions. Entry is free for Westminster Res-card holders, Art Fund Members and Friends of the FBA.
09.09.2008 – Blists Hill Victorian town gives innovative access to online visitors
An Ironbridge heritage site has linked up with Telford’s e-Innovation Centre to create a website enabling virtual visitors to follow the building work currently being undertaken there.
Blists Hill, the Ironbridge Gorge’s Victorian town, is undergoing a £12 million redevelopment. Visitors will be able to see the results of the project in Spring 2009.
Meanwhile, the website is offering a diary, images, time lapse film and a forum for people to comment on what they see going on via the web from behind the hoardings which currently hide the work from public view.
Paul Gossage, Head of Marketing at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said: “Our market research revealed that the public wished to be part of our development journey and we believe that providing this insight into the project is a vital initiative.”
Part of a partnership between the University of Wolverhampton, the West Midlands Technology Network and West Midlands Mobile and Wireless and funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Development Fund, the website is being maintained by Ironbridge Gorge Museum staff following training by the e-Innovation Centre.
Director of the e-Innovation Centre, Dr Garry Homer said: We welcome the opportunity to work with a major heritage site such as Ironbridge Gorge Museum; the juxtaposition of Victorian technology with 21st-century technology is quite demanding.”
Manchester’s Central Library is again hosting an exhibition devised by local historian Brian Selby about the city's lost attraction - Belle Vue Zoological Gardens.
Until October 17, visitors to the library can take in the wonders that were to be found and the fun to be had at the park in its hey day.
Belle Vue’s Back in Town once more features Brian’s vast collection of original posters, postcards, programmes and guides along with other memorabilia and souvenirs.
Brian is sure that this reprieve of the original exhibition will be a nostalgic experience for visitors to the displays. He said: “Many people will remember with affection the Belle Vue of the 1940s and 1950s with the popular outdoor dancing, fireworks and battle enactments plus the opportunity after the Saturday night Speedway to visit the funfair.”
08.09.2008 – National Trust’s Erddig exhibits crafty tradition and innovation
The crafts of spinning, dying and weaving are being celebrated with an exhibition of the work of members of the North Shropshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers.
A visit to the National Turst’s Erddig property near Wrexham between September 13 and 17 will allow visitors to see how these traditional and ancient skills are being kept alive. They will also learn how new methods and innovations are leading to developments in these crafts.
The Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail (ASHT) is launching this year’s Anglo Sikh Heritage Week (September 13 – 21) with a call for volunteers. ASHT is keen to hear from people who can help develop a range of projects to take forward the organisation's aspirations to uncover, record and teach about Anglo Sikh heritage.
Based primarily in their Walsall office, volunteers are needed who can offer up to three days a week to assist in website development and image research. Additionally, they need people who can undertake oral history interviews. Volunteers are also required nationally to support events and help with research in a variety of locations.
As well as helping with ASHT’s projects, volunteers will also benefit from training and experience within the organisation.
Further information can be obtained by calling 01922 721 504, emailing gsb@asht.info or visiting the ASHT website.
