24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
Bob The Builder Is Volunteer Of The Year At The Stirling Smith
By David Prudames
03/06/2003
Left: Michael McGinnes, Smith Collections Manager and Right: newly crowned Volunteer of the Year Bob Taggart alongside the new Stirling Smith sign, a project managed by Bob the builder himself.
Nestled in the shadow of the imposing Stirling Castle, the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum requires only the most robust of volunteers to match up to its dramatic location.
When former structural engineer Bob Taggart arrived at the institution he certainly fitted the bill, was dubbed 'Bob the builder', and has now been named Volunteer of the Year.
Through Stirling Volunteer Centre's Open Door Project, Bob began working at the Stirling Smith almost a year ago and has since contributed a huge amount of time and energy, using his extensive knowledge to make an enormous difference.
However, despite his retirement, Bob has now left the institution to take up a full time paid job. But he leaves behind him a rich legacy.
“Bob has improved the quality of our working spaces beyond measure, as well as adding to the displays at the Smith,” explained Michael McGinnes, Smith Collections Manager. “We will miss him.”
From refurbishing 1930s cinema seats and organising a new museum sign, to building a Tardis for last year's Dr Who exhibition, staff at the Stirling Smith have said that some of Bob's work will last for a century.
Image: Shows Bob Taggart installing cinema seats at the Stirling Smith.
Right: installing cinema seats - can he fix it? Of course he can.
“I am not surprised that Bob is going back to full-time paid employment,” added Stirling Smith Director, Elspeth King.
“We have been exceptionally lucky to have him here. I am grateful to both him and Stirling Volunteer Centre for making it possible.”
Paid for by the Community Fund, the Open Door Project operates out of the Stirling Volunteer Centre, providing the training and support needed to help people, including those with long term mental health issues to get into volunteering.
Project Co-ordinator Jacqueline Walsh told the 24 Hour Museum how Open Door has helped volunteers to get involved in everything from gardening to children's playgroups.
“If somebody comes to us and wants to volunteer for something we'll do our best to get them into that,” she explained. “Bob came along to the Centre and was looking for something to do to fill his time.”
“He's obviously very happy to have got a job and it's great when somebody has achieved whatever they're own goal is. It's great when you hear a success story like that.”
Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Stirling
Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, FK8 2RQ, Scotland
Open: Tues-Sat 10.30-17.00
Sun 14.00-17.00
Closed: Mondays
Related Articles
News In Brief - Week Ending September 16 2007
News In Brief - Week Ending December 10 2006
Stirling Archives' List Sheds Light On 18th Century Medicine
Stirling Smith Looks At The Brave Face Of William Wallace
Creativity - The True Art Of Therapy At The Stirling Smith Gallery
Braveheart Back In Stirling As Smith Art Gallery Buys Portrait
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
Mark Leckey Scoops £25,000 And The 2008 Turner Prize
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long Campaign For Cardiff Museum
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Campaign To Save Captain Scott's Hut Needs Another £65,000
Open Air Lab Project Launches At The Natural History Museum
Gravity Defying Vertical Racer Drives Kids Up the Wall At MOSI
DCMS And English Heritage List Seven London Bridges
Railway Museums Launch Joint WWII Railway Worker Project
Bowes Museum Famous Mechanical Swan Goes Back On Show In December
Free Admission To Historic Scotland Sites For St Andrew's Day
Fund Raising Scheme Is Backing Great North Museum: Hancock
Tyneside Gallery Plots New Display After Funding Victory
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.