Our last blog was dedicated to Sonja Dosanjh,
who retired as our Volunteer Coordinator after a 17-year association
with the Museum. So, we’ll start this one by welcoming our new Coordinator,
Hannah Leese, who takes over the mantle of looking after the 92 strong
volunteer work force. Hannah, a native of Devon, studied Film & TV
production at university and has been working at the Museum since 2016. She
started in the Marketing Department, but then in 2019 took on the role of HR Coordinator,
which now encompasses this additional role.
At the end of last year, 18 volunteers received their 10-year
service awards from Museum MD Jeff Coope. All were from the initial intake of
30 volunteers, recruited during the summer of 2012. As explained in our last
blog, vehicle inspection and recording data were the first tasks undertaken,
before the new Collections Centre came on stream.
However, since then volunteer numbers have significantly
increased, as have the numerous tasks we now undertake, both inside and outside
the Museum.
The bulk of the volunteer force is still very much involved
with guiding and tours. Whilst this was originally just focused on the
Collections Centre, as the Museum expands, we are now assisting with guiding in the main building as well. We’re also getting involved in the many
special events, such as quiz nights, car gatherings and shows that the Museum
regularly puts on.
Four volunteers are still involved in vehicle data collection
and recording, as the Museum collection constantly grows with new acquisitions.
A more recent sizeable acquisition was the transfer of around 50 vehicles from
Vauxhall Motor’s vehicle collection, which now reside at the Museum.
A small team of volunteers continue with various restoration
projects, the most recent one being the refurbishment of the large
collection of display engines the Museum had in store. Their current project is
the part restoration of a 1936 Rover Speed 14 - pictured below with doors
removed.
Refurbish projects –
the 1936 Rover and numerous display engines
The Museum’s archive section has always had a volunteer
presence and the number has increased to around eight over the last few years.
Recent additions to the archive collection have come from both Lucas and
Vauxhall, which all need sorting and collating. It’s an interesting fact, that
hardly a week goes by without someone donating something from the motor
industry’s past, all of which need attention.
Recording history, literally has been largely the task
volunteer, Vince Hall. Oral history is an important and always interesting part
of the Museum’s mission. Vince interviews people involved in the motor
industry, both past and present, many of them his fellow volunteers.
Whilst the above activities have largely been in place since
the beginning, it’s the creation of what is known as the Outreach Team that has
generated many of the new projects over the last couple of years. Led by Emma
Rawlinson of the Learning and Engagement Team, approximately 25 volunteers are
now actively involved.
One of the first projects was going out into the community,
visiting care homes, dementia cafes, health and well-being groups and schools,
with a large collection of motoring memorabilia. This has recently expanded
during the cold spell and current economic climate, with Warm Hub centre
visits, which have sprung up in the area. Not only have these been a success
and a great stimulator, but they have also helped in promoting the Museum and
its mission to serve the community. Some of the groups mentioned, particularly
schools, also make visits to the Museum and again the volunteers assist with
the tours and object handling.
Volunteers at their
first Warm Hub visit
The Museum was an early contributor to the STEM project,
which has now grown into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
Maths). Recent projects have included helping nearby MOD Kineton with a series
of learning sessions, whilst six volunteers are currently preparing and
distributing STEAM bags as part of the Community Pantry project.
Finally, we have around 18 volunteers, who over the last
couple of years have been preparing and are now delivering talks on various as
aspects of motoring history related to the Museum. 7 talks have now been
completed and approved. They are: Wizardry on Wheels – The Mini; The Most
Beautiful Car in the World – The E-Type Jaguar; From Farm to Front Line – The
Land Rover; History of the British Sports Car; Evolution of the British Motor
Industry; The Car’s the Star and The Crown and the Car. All run for around 45
minutes, with over 60 relevant and interesting slides for most talks. All talks
can now be booked, for delivery at an outside venue, or at the Museum.
It is hoped most, if not all the talks, will be delivered
during the Museum’s 30th Anniversary week - 14th to 20th
August. More news on that will follow, but one thing is sure, the volunteers
will be playing a big part during the week.