Thursday, 22 December 2011

Busy Busy Busy

By the NMMC's  Poet Laureate

Our Volunteers are useful -
and multi-tasking too,
they don't sit back
when times are slack,
there's lots of things to do.

Up in Cornwall there's a special place
for an ironing board to stow,
so bring clean washing with you
to be pressed before you go.

The flat top in the Lookout
could be used for kneading dough,
and as the shift progresses,
it will rise, all nice and slow.

Your silver polish could be brought
and all the cutlery.
Take home shining knives and forks,
(that one appeals to me).

Provided you're not busy,
chat to Tourists as you work,
they'll note your dedication -
Volunteers never shirk.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Seeing the Lights - Social Club Christmas 2011

by Sheila Addison

Sunday 18th December at 5pm saw an intrepid band of twenty two set out by coach from the museum. We were aiming for Mousehole, but we went via a selection of villages and country lanes. I know we went through Helston, Porthleven, Breage, Marazion, Penzance and Newlyn. We were lucky to find a prime parking spot in Mousehole, and in order to help us walk around the harbour, the coach driver issued us with 'iron rations' of sherry and mince pies from the coach boot. The Mousehole lights were fantastic. I know they always are, but then there is always that something extra.

Forty Five minutes later we were on our way again. This time via Long Rock, Hayle and Angarrick – which was amazing. Fish and chips at Trevaskiss Farm came next, a great place to stop, all of, plus the driver, at one long table. The place was packed. None of our crowd could manage one of those fabulous puddings though! 

Home finally to Falmouth. I actually got home at nearly 11pm but it was a great trip, everyone enjoyed themselves, and the coach driver was a definite 'one off' with his humorous comments and knowledge.

Many thanks to Tess and Beryl for the idea.

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Ho, Ho, Ho

by Mike Pennell
It’s rotten being Santa
when you cannot grow a beard,
and Red is not your colour –
and the snow’s gone, as you feared.

There’s the problem with the chimneys
(‘cos you’re claustrophobic too);
a runner’s come right off the sledge
and you can’t find the screw.

The Elves have been complaining,
(they think bonuses are due!!)
There’s a Reindeer that is limping
and he needs another shoe.

Must we really have this every year?
It’s getting on my nerves.
Just send the kids to Trago -
Let each get what it deserves!!

Monday, 19 December 2011

Super Size Weekend

by Debbie Rogers
Family activities were VERY busy on Saturday, in-fact, we didn't stop on Quarterdeck, with a constant wave of eager children and parents making their Xmas goodies to take home. There were people who had come in especially to see our wonderful storyteller Douglas Dapper and the 'kids getting in for free' obviously worked as did the fantastic food and craft fair on the square. There was a wonderful buzz inside and out all day... we ran out of the Mission to Seafarer cards so there was some frantic photocopying and the trail was very popular as ever.

It has been the busiest Xmas weekend for the education department and hopefully the shop and café too. It's so lovely as previously we have felt very deflated having come up with lovely activities but just a handful of children would come and enjoy them. The Quarterdeck dressing has been a huge success, children and parents have loved Santa's workshop and sleigh (thanks to John Beale and Derryth's creativity) but the poor Trago reindeer have taken a battering!

Thank you to Norma and Barbara for your hard work, very much appreciated.

What a shock for my rested holiday brain!

Thursday, 15 December 2011

The Bailey Bristol Bash

by John Pritchard

On 16 November a  team of 17 from the boat squad managed to escape on a mission to Bristol. The mission was to visit the Bailey Caravan factory and take the opportunity to visit the new MShed Museum at the Bristol docks. Head of escape committee and organiser of this excellent day out was Mike Selwood. Transport  for the day was minibus. Lack of GPS on board meant chartwork and Dead Reckoning. Navigating to the Bailey factory in the centre of Bristol  proved to be quite interesting. The up-side was we had excellent views of the underside of Clifton Suspension Bridge, from all directions, many times ... many many times!

Our Grand Host at Bailey was Patrick Howard. Pat is a boat restoration volunteer and when not bailing the bilges of some museum exhibit he manages to find time to be Chairman of Bailey Caravans of Bristol. Patrick and his team gave us a full morning which included a presentation on the company, a detailed guided tour of the facilities and working lunch with his management team. The factory is in the heart of Bristol and employs around 400 people, mostly living locally, making Bailey  an important part of the community.

Bailey have manufactured caravans in Bristol since 1948 but don’t get the impression that this is an old style company. This is a state of the art organisation and facility, a leader in their field and producer of some very impressive caravans and motorhomes. In recent years they have developed and patented new lightweight, high strength body panels and body construction methods. This, together with highly efficient, high quality production lines and support systems has given them a major product advantage in the market. They have also recently started a new business by developing motorhomes and successfully bringing these to the market achieving major sales at this year’s product launch at the NEC.

During the tour of the facility we saw :-
• Modern methods of handling and control of  material into and throughout the factory 
• The manufacture and machining of body panels using CAD/CAM and the latest machine tools
• The rolling assembly line where discrete teams assembled the chassis and body panels and the various equipment assemblies - testing the work as the line rolled on. (They had some clever, effective methods of maintaining the optimum production line speed).
• The finished caravans and motorhomes rolling off the production line. (The line can produce a caravan every ten minutes!)

As we went around Bailey, we were all impressed with the equipment and facilities but, without doubt, most impressive was the energy and motivation of the workforce at all levels and the way they were working as a team. There are not many companies of this size where the Chairman and MD are on first name terms with the lads on the production line. It was obviously a great working relationship. Patrick is quite rightly extremely proud of the people and their achievements at Bailey and we thank him and Nick Howard (MD) and the Bailey team for giving us their valuable time and wish them  every success in the future.

In the afternoon we visited MShed. This new museum is part of Bristol Museums Galleries and Archives, run and funded by the city. It is in a great strategic location, right on the old dockside which has had major investment/development over the years. MShed is just down the wharf from the 'SS Great Britain' and the 'Matthew'.

The focus of our visit was to see how the volunteers and staff managed the various equipment and exhibits to support the museum and we were given an excellent tour led by their Curator Andy King. The main museum is a modern structure built around the M shed (an old transit shed). The storage and workshop areas are mainly in the adjoining L shed.

The stores hold a large wide variety of artefacts from Bristol’s industrial past. There were a lot of transport related items from horse-drawn carriages, bikes, motorbikes, bits of cars, buses, trucks, a vintage Bailey caravan, bits of planes. They had loads of beautiful models including the Concorde wind tunnel test model. They had engines and bits of engines from all types of transport (including marine). They had parts of cranes and various engineering structures including some Brunel bits. We could have spent hours! It is not surprising that the museum puts on successful regular guided tours of their stores for the public.

We then saw some of the workshop activities: A team were renovating a bus chassis to go on the road as a driving exhibit, various pumps and engines were being renovated. Quite a lot of work was being carried on switchgear motors and other electrical equipment. These workshops are supporting operating exhibits which include dockside cranes, steam locomotives (dockside trains), buses, steam and diesel tugs (afloat), fire tenders (ashore and afloat). These exhibits are accessed by the public in the form of rides and trips. To keep this lot operational demands skill and knowledge on old technology, e.g. they have to know how to strip down, repair and get operating an electrical switch made in 1950s.

They have to manufacture a lot of their own spare parts and have the knowledge of how parts can be safely repaired. Their team of volunteers therefore includes experienced mechanical, electrical, instrument engineers/technicians/craftsmen in addition to the traditional train drivers, crane drivers, firemen and boatmen to operate the exhibits.

MShed allowed us a trip around the docks on the 1930s fire boat ‘Pyronaught’(blasting her fire hoses across the docks) plus a trip up one of the 1950s dockside cranes. This crane is fully rated, tested, certified and operational today. Very impressive. A credit to the MShed support team. We thank Andy King and his team of volunteers for this special behind-the-scenes look at MShed.

Return to Life/ Falmouth  Having been given varied advice on the best pub on the way home, we ended up taking pot luck by diving into the village of  Sticklepath  and  the Taw River Inn. An excellent end to a great day. We had good food and ale, good service and the landlady’s prices were very reasonable. Highly recommended.

Many thanks for being let out.

[NMMC Management please find attached capital requisition for one off Bailey Approach SE760 Motorhome. Urgently required for all future visits]

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Customer care

The Director seems to think that our standards of customer care have dropped recently. He was spotted early one morning reviewing other organisations' training videos. Here is one he seemed to think suitable for us. Apparently tests will be instituted in the new year.

 

Monday, 12 December 2011

It's a PC world

by Mike Pennell

So no more 'Grumpies' anymore,
(My paper says, today,)
We’re 'Golden Agers' now it seems,
keeping Father Time at bay!!

They used to call us 'Wrinklies'
even 'Crinklies' I have heard;
(These PC boffins should be named)
I’ve thought of just one word!!!

A rose by any other name,
is just as sweet – (they say) -
we may be rather prickly,
so keep out of our way!!

New yacht anyone?

News reaches us that the MV Windsor Castle is for sale and a snip at around £150,000. Familiar to anyone who has sailed up to Tolverne or sat having a cream tea in the Smuggler's Cottage, the Windsor Castle was originally built to serve the Scottish Islands and has a rather classic look for her age (1964). Those that know say that the price is a fraction of the scrap value.

Come on team: time for a new runabout. See more

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

Recently I saw half a dozen Father Christmases crossing the Main Hall which was very confusing for the little kiddies. Their failures in future will probably be traced back by some nutty Psychologist to the traumatic experience at the museum and an ambulance chasing lawyer will sue us. We must be more careful.

I was giving a talk in the Lookout last week. A young couple were listening intently whilst their infant son crawled around the floor. Suddenly he sat back on his nappy and screamed the place down. Well, I thought, my oration wasn't that bad. His mother picked him up and started breast feeding him. That shut him up.

The lighthouse exhibition is drawing to a close. It has been very popular I think, with a nice mix of history, nostalgia, entertainment and technology, especially optics and the transmission of light from candle power to the modern diodes.

Which reminds me, during the blitz my parents and us four kids had been an air raid shelter for several hours. About one in the morning it had been quiet for about an hour when my mother said "Come on, we're going home. We have to be up in the morning." We made our way up the road through the inky darkness of the black-out. My father struck a match and puffed at his pipe. An aircraft droned overhead. There was the unmistakable whistle of bombs. We dived for cover on the grass verge as a couple of explosions rent the air in the fields behind the houses, then all went quiet except for my mother berating my father. "That was your fault, that pipe of yours." "Nonsense" said my father, a very placid man, "they wouldn't be able to see that." "Yes they would" said my sister. "No, they wouldn't" said I, siding with my father. Thinking back, my mother was probably right, as usual.

Monday, 28 November 2011

Happy chickens



Feast or Famine!

by Mike Pennell, NMMC's resident poet

I did the shift last Sunday
(not many Tourists in)
We had a full team too today,
it seems we cannot win!!

The Lookout was a lonely place,
no one to talk to there,
and Cornwall was deserted
even Hold was rather bare.

I sat down at the Waterfront,
but let the breezes blow,
I did have one or two who played
though business was quite slow.

The Penguin never got shook up,
the Lighthouse kept its list,
the few who played were quite adept,
with all the hazards missed.

I think it was fine weather
that kept most people out,
It’s all wrong for November,
but the rain WILL come, no doubt.

Or when it’s snowing heavily,
and folk come through the door,
We’ll have just TWO on shift that day,
Please can we have two more!!!

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Return of a Grumpy

by Mike Pennell

I waited till you got the Prize
before I came back in;
a Grumpy Volunteer
could have meant we didn’t win!!

I made my way to Falmouth
and found a place to park -
it’s hard if you’re not local,
I’m just glad it wasn’t dark.

I found I was still recognised,
and welcomed with a smile,
a hug was rather nice as well
(not had one for a while!!)

We didn’t have too many tourists -
Perhaps they weren’t told I was back!!
I was going to ring up the “Packet”
to tell them I’d not got the sack.

I managed to navigate safely
Though they’ve moved an exhibit or two,
but the CafĂ© still serves good Espresso –
and a double of those sees me through.

Thursday, 3 November 2011

We won!


NMMC wins Volunteer Cornwall Host of the Year 2011 Award
Linda and Colin receive the winner’s award and prize presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col. Edward Bolitho, and the sponsor Lynda Quee, Service Manager, Health Promotion Service.

There were 14 awards presented at the Volunteer Cornwall; Cornwall Celebrates Volunteering Awards 2011 on Friday 28 October, each category shortlisted down to just three organisations/individuals. These awards are first and foremost about raising the awareness of the amazing work done by all volunteers. We were shortlisted for and ended up winning ‘Host of the Year’, an award for organisations who regularly host volunteers.

Well done us!

Friday, 14 October 2011

Falmouth strikes oil?

... another entry in our 'rumours to be denied' section. Historians, or anyone who looks at the Docks model, will suggest that they are unlikely to find anything more exciting than generations of mud and back-fill.

The rig was actually checking the nature of the subsoil beneath the Campbeltown Way car park to inform some development plans.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

We're in the middle of the Saga season. There are some very interesting oldies hobbling around on their walking sticks. One wizened old man approached me after my talk in Lookout & said he was serving in a destroyer on D Day escorting the armada, hunting U-boats and giving anti-aircraft cover. Arriving off the Normandy beaches they bombarded the coastal defences until their guns were red hot. Such memories will soon be lost.

I went and sat with an old lady on a bench in the Main Hall. She was leaning on her stick looking rather lonely. Her carer had gone up to the Lookout. I offered to take her up. "It's alright for you youngsters" she said. "If I'm older than you will you come up?" I said. It turned out that she was three months younger! We ambled slowly across to the lift arm in arm like Darby & Joan. When she got to the top her face lit up. Well I do have the occasional success.

There are some youngsters around. I came across a couple of attractive blondes, cadets from a sail training ship, having a friendly argument. They had a fit of the giggles by the token machine on Waterfront. One of them had got a couple of tokens and the other had promptly put them back in the machine. I contributed to Anglo-Polish relations by giving them tokens.

We had a horde of design students in recently. I've never seen so many digital cameras in all my life. They were snapping everything from light fittings to lobster pots and the occasional boat. I asked a couple of young girls, dark haired ones this time, if they were doing a project and what they wanted. One of them gesticulated as if she was in a Greek tragedy. "Something inspirational" she said. I struck a pose. "How about me?" I said. She pulled a face. Well, I thought it was funny. You can't win them all.

Friday, 7 October 2011

Twinned with Cairo

A colleague from a partner museum visited the Museum recently and wondered whether he had come to the right place. 'I thought I was arriving in Cairo' he said. We assured him that the dhow was safely tied up in Ponsharden and that he had indeed arrived at Discovery Quay.

Friday, 30 September 2011

Good old Royal Mail

 
by Annette Shaw

I was amazed to receive this in the mail this morning. Someone had simply folded a visitor survey, stuck a stamp on it & put it in a postbox.

Well done Royal Mail for safely delivering it to us.

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

The Eradication of Bar House

by David Wilson
The recent demolition of the Admiral Nelson public house on Bar Road saw the removal of the last tangible reminder, apart from Bar Road itself, of The Bar, otherwise known as Arwenack Bar. This was a large natural sand and shingle bank enclosing an area of tidal pools, artificially embanked in the seventeenth century to support the operation of corn mills powered by the tide. Subsequently shipyards were developed on the bank and around the edge of the seaward pool known as Bar Creek. For 150 years or more a number of shipbuilding firms built and repaired a great variety of vessels here; including packet ships, merchant vessels from barques to smacks, pilot cutters and quay punts, steam tugs and pleasure yachts. From the 1920s the pools were gradually filled in with spoil from the expansion of Falmouth Docks; the last of the shipwrights moved away to Ponsharden and Little Falmouth. The whole area has, of course, now been built over, to form the Port Pendennis marina complex, the Events Square, and the Maritime Museum.

The Symons family shipyard was one of several sited on the side of the creek, with its landward entrance off Bar Road. The family residence adjoined the yard on the edge of the foreshore, and was known as Bar House. In the early nineteenth century, apart from the sound of hammering and sawing, and the smell of sawn timber, the creek was still relatively unspoilt. With the expansion and increasing affluence of Falmouth, in 1831 shipwright Francis Symons decided to try to cash in on the new craze of bathing. Where better to establish sea-water based health cure facilities and lodgings than at his own Bar House? The following notice was one of a number Symons placed in the Royal Cornwall Gazette to advertise his secondary business. How successful it was is not known. He continued ship building until about 1860, when his son George took over. W.H. Lean is believed to have been the next occupant of the site, until driven out by the Falmouth dock expansion. Meanwhile Symons Bar House had become the Dock Inn, later renamed and redeveloped as the Dock and Railway Hotel, and then the Riviera Hotel. After the second world war it reverted to the name of Dock and Railway Hotel. It subsequently became the Admiral Nelson.

Monday, 19 September 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

The kids have gone back to school, hooray! Oh, sorry, that slipped out. The talks in the Lookout are less likely to be interrupted by noisy children and as such are easier for the speaker and the audience. Most parents are co-operative and remove their off-spring from the situation. A few are pathetic in controlling their little dears. Some couldn't care less and very occasionally are quite belligerent.

Recently two little urchins pushed their way through to get at the noisy video. 'Not whilst I'm speaking if you don't mind' I said. 'Come back in a few minutes.' I didn't know where their parents were. One glared at me in defiance while his brother looked sheepish and pulled him away.

Shortly after, a couple of raucous seagulls decided to have a 'bit of a domestic' outside on the balcony before flying off. I apologised for the yobbish Falmouth seagulls. Just before I had finished a Merlin helicopter drowned out my oration. 'I don't believe it' I thought. There was more laughter from the audience. Right on cue, when I had finished a ship sounded its siren. I wasn't quite sure whether it was in appreciation or a raspberry. The dozen or so in the audience appreciated it with laughter and applause!

Monday, 12 September 2011

Farewell to Lady Mary

Anne Powell and I represented the Museum at the Eden Project on Friday 9 September in the grand farewell party to say farewell to Lady Mary Holborow as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. All the great and good of Cornwall were there, many of them wearing chains. Two people (us two) from each of the 33 organisations with which Lady Mary has been involved formed a wonderfully informal (think slightly chaotic) little procession, all of us bearing banners. We carried a large paddle with a flag on it and carried a model boat which was rather appropriate given the torrential rain outside.

Speeches were made - excellent and witty ones by Sir Michael Galsworthy and Lady Mary herself; dancing was done by TR14 a youth group from Camborne; Suzanne Manuell sang; a band played and the Truro Male Voice choir led us in Trelawney. All good Cornish stuff.

Lady Mary did say that there were two things she would not miss: too many emails and chicken breasts. At so many functions she has attended, the 'light and simple food' has included chicken breasts which have hung around for just too long and have ended up slightly dry and curling at the edge, or like reconstituted cardboard. She was looking forward to spending more time with her husband who was given a case of unbelievably expensive claret.

It was good to pay tribute to Lady Mary, a person about whom, as Tim Smit said, no one has ever said an unkind or critical word and who is a true ambassador for the county. Her help in setting up this Museum was, as delivered in her usual unassuming and yet influential manner.

Jonathan Griffin

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

Charlie, the WalMart Senior Greeter

Charlie, a new retiree-greeter at WalMart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late, but he was a really good worker, exceptionally tidy, clean-shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company; he obviously demonstrated their 'Older Person Friendly' policies. One day the boss called Charlie into the office for a talk.
"Charlie, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a first class job. But, being late so often is quite bothersome."
"I know boss, and I am working on it." said Charlie.
''Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd though, your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. So, what did they say if you came in late back then?"
Charlie shifted in his seat and replied ''Well they said, 'Good morning, Admiral, can I get you coffee, sir?''

We never forget that volunteers had lives before the Museum … but sometimes we need reminding!

Thursday, 25 August 2011

The Director's runabout?

If only...
David Barnicoat works his magic again.

Scrapheap joy

There are few more inspiring sights than visitors really enjoying themselves and on a wet day in summer they certainly do that. Derryth's team may have a different view when they contemplate the tidying up...

Thursday, 18 August 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

It's not often we get 'road rage'on the Waterfront. The other day a grumpy, very grumpty, O.A.P. came careering down the ramp at all of 2 miles an hour on his electric buggy and skidded to a halt in front of me. "How do you get out of this place? I've been driving around in circles for the last half an hour." I looked at him & thought 'I'm supposed to be the grumpy one around here.' I considered directing him down onto the pontoon but thought I'd better not. Didn't want to antagonise the stroppy crabs just now. I took him back up the ramp and pointed him in the right direction. "Huh!" he snorted and sped off. We really should have a 'sat nav' system. On second thoughts, better not. He really would end up on the pontoon. A traffic warden would be better. He could issue on the spot fines and ASBOs to kids.

Monday, 25 July 2011

Another Museum Minnow

Congratulations to Kirsty and Mike on the birth of Lily Eve on Saturday evening, weighing in at 9lb 11oz     

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Visit of HRH the Princess Royal

We were delighted to welcome HRH the Princess Royal and Admiral Sir Tim Laurence to the Museum on Monday 18 July for a relatively informal visit to see the Lighthouses exhibition. This was the third time that she has visited and, as always, she showed her interest and love of sailing.

The royal party started by meeting the Volunteers of the day under the watchful eye of Captain George and was then shown around the Lighthouses exhibition by Ben Lumby and Sarah Riddle. They met former lighthouse keeper Gordon Partirdge and Colin Wortley, swapping anecdotes and stories for HRH is Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board (aka 'Scotland's Trinity House') and has visited  most of these. From the Quarterdeck, they made their way through SOUTH and down to their waiting boat for the trip to Mylor Yacht Harbour.

The atmosphere was informal all the way through with the public allowed to be in the same gallery as the royal party and occasionally chatting to them.

As Lady Mary Holborow said in her thank you letter 'It was obvious that Her Royal Highness and Sir Tim enjoyed it enormously and I would be grateful if you would pass on my thanks to all concerned.' Hear, hear.


Trivia:
  • HRH was present when the last Scottish lighthouse keeper left the last manned lighthouse
  • HRH never sailed in Coweslip or Bluebottle: she was regarded as 'too young'
  • When they rebuilt the roof of St George's Hall, Windsor they cut the timbers to length. What they did not know was that the hall was not the same width at both ends and so the timbers were about a foot too short . Red faces all around.

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

It's not that we are short of space

It is not that we are short of space - actually we are, but let that pass. It was just one of those water-cooler conversations that turned into a planning session on how to present a bronze age boat display

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

By Keith Evans

School holidays are imminent. No more anxious glances at the board in 1912 by the 'thin blue line' about to go on duty. There were 90 kids crocodiling through the Main Hall one morning last week, most of them hopping along the polar bear foot-prints. Later that morning I was up in Look Out when a dozen of them came stampeding up the stairs. An elderly couple beat a hasty retreat via the lift.

A teacher, a woman of very slight build and, without being unkind, past her prime, brought up the rear and stood in the doorway. "QUIET!" she roared. The windows rattled, the crabs on the pontoon dived for cover, all the seagulls within half a mile took to the air and I lost a few more auditory nerve cells. Within a couple of seconds you could hear a pin drop. Well, that's rather novel in this day and age, I thought.

Reminds me of one of my old Masters who used to roar across the classroom. He had uncanny accuracy with any missile to hand, usually a piece of chalk. In contrast to another Master, Mr Bell, affectionally known as 'Ding Dong', who could control a class by raising his eyebrow. I'm sure the teacher in the Look Out last week was Bossy Mosses', as he was called, great grand-daughter.

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Crab's Revolt

by Mike Pennell

I’m only a poor little crab
and I don’t harm a soul in my lair;
Then I’m tempted with bait,
Oh, my oath – it’s too late,
didn’t see that damned hook hanging there.

Now I’ve honed a sharp edge on my claws,
and the next time I see a kid’s line,
I shall nip it in half
and sit back with a laugh,
for the victory, this time, is MINE.

I’m gathering up all my mates,
waging war on those kids up above;
If we cut off their hooks
we may get some harsh looks
(I just wish we could give them a shove).

If a youngster fell into the water
(and we certainly don't wish him drowned)
Just a nip here and there
on the bits that were bare,
before he got back on dry ground.

I’m sure it would stop all this hassle,
and leave us in peace for a change;
a wet deck keeps them in,
a day’s rain, and we win!
I’m sure the Met boys could arrange!!

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans
Down on the pontoon there have been mutterings about the imminent start of the crabbing season. No, not from the volunteers, they don't mutter they growl, but from the crabs.

'Here we go again' one was heard to say. 'How would those humans like to be hauled up on a line with a rotten bit of bait on the end and shoved into a bucket with someone you don't like, then be deafened by screams from delinquent children echoing around the bucket. They'd soon invoke the Human Rights Act, the Harrassment Act, Health & Safety regs or take out a Privacy Injunction.

It's also about time the management did something about the pontoon which takes the ground at low water - springs. It's no joke waking up from an afternoon nap to find half a ton of pontoon settling down on your head. I ruined my claws digging myself out last week.'

I believe the crabs are voting as to whether to withdraw co-operation again this year.

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Entry for The Big Blue Aquarium Competition

by Mike Pennell

If my name was Roman
and I had a whopping yacht,
I’d add on all the 'goodies'
that my other friends ain’t got.

Everyone has helipads
and a speedboat just for leisure,
but I have something right inside
that gives me hours of pleasure.

Aquariums are so restful
and if the weather’s rough,
I wouldn’t have to sit on deck
with all that angling stuff.

The crew can fish for supper
and the Chef can do the fries,
while I just sprinkle fish food
for the ones of smaller size.

Thursday, 16 June 2011

The Big Blue

Le Grand Bleu is dominating the port at the moment. Bought by Roman Abramovich, she was 'given' to Eugene Shvidler, a 'colleague' of his. There is more on Wikipedia.

At 104 m (341 ft), she comes complete with helipad of course. The yacht on her port quarter is 74ft in length while speedboat on her starboard is only 65ft which seems rather small.

A little bird tells me that inside there is a massive aquarium. A prize for the best explanation as to why you might need an aquarium inside a yacht when you have the sea, full of fish, on the oustide.

Thursday, 9 June 2011

The Grumpies

by our resident poet, Mike Pennell

I’ve paid a Life Sub to the G-O-M group
(that’s Grumpy Old Men, as you know)
to explain what we do, and to learn who is who,
just read what is written below.

We don’t have a livery – nor a smart badge,
not even a Union Card,
but most of us move around slowly
and the wrinkles show - if you look hard.

When a Grumpy goes sick & is missing,
the rest of the troops rally round,
and if you ask some where he’s hiding,
there’ll be those who don’t care, I’ll be bound!!

Though aged, most still have their marbles,
and some maintain they still play!!
(It’s not something gentlemen speak of)
so perhaps they’ve not ALL had their day!!

The talent among them is endless,
Professional men to the core;
A few have degrees (not that anyone’s seen,
or knows what they’re qualified for).

Nauti News gives some hints of their thinking,
they write on some weird events;
They see things that others don’t notice
and much of it doesn’t make sense!!

The ex-sailors walk with a nautical gait,
(it’s a habit you just cannot lose)
and the ones who did time in “Square Riggers”
chew baccy & drink lots of booze!

They are adept at chatting to Tourists,
with tales of their dim distant past,
but when children are shouting and screaming
they head for the Coffee room fast!

I’ve been sick so I’m not on the roster,
and I’m not sure just when I’ll be back,
(I must do some shifts before Christmas
or it’s P.45 and the sack!!)

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Postman brings good news

This letter and a charity voucher (cheque) for £500 was received in the post this morning from an anonymous visitor.

All we know is that the envelope has a Cambridge postmark.

Well done us!

Monday, 23 May 2011

A night out with the Matthew

Twenty six volunteers spent an evening on the Matthew, gently gliding over in the vague direction of St Mawes. Althoguh Rob used the engine to leave the pontoon, there was sufficient breeze to raise a single topsail, bringing her hull speed to a dizzy 0.9 knots. The more adventurous were all for raising a few more sails but their loudly dropped hints were not heard.

In this picture a impromptu prayer meeting begs for more wind (actually they were lowering the topsail).

Meanwhile, on deck, Pat was doing his laser-eye trick at Lynn as he explained the difference between a back splice and an eye splice.

The really impressive part of the evening, other than the cold of a May evening which reminded on just how bitter it must have been on the original Matthew in the North Atlantic in winter, was Rob's steering as he brought the Matthew back to the pontoon. He took her right up to the Harbour Master's fuelling station, almost berthing for fuel, and then reversed her gently past £millions of yacht and through onto the pontoon; neither breeze, nor gust, nor b-minded tiller prevented him having complete control at all times. Not one for the amateur.

A great night out.

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Boat Volunteer Team Meeting

On Thursday 12th May we held a meeting of the boat volunteer team to formally introduce Mike Selwood and to plan for some changes in the workshop. In future we’ll be building fewer big exhibition sets in there, moving those operations to Ponsharden.

In the workshop we’ll be focusing on the obvious links with the boat building gallery, putting more boats from the collection on display and carrying out practical boat restoration and conservation.

A warm Museum welcome to Mike Selwood

We welcome Mike Selwood as the new Assistant Boat Manager. He comes to us from Falmouth Marine School, where he worked as Technician and Tutor on the Traditional Boat Building courses at Ponsharden. A keen sailor, Mike is no stranger to the Museum and says he’s looking forward to some new challenges – there will be plenty of those.

Monday, 16 May 2011

Sleep all over

Eighty people slept the night in the Museum on the doubtfully wise date of Friday 13 May. There was a host of activities to amuse:
- Pirate galleon (Scrapheap) challenge
- Washed-up Will's torchlit tour (aka Mr Dapper)
- Rescue de Pirate (aka John Henry Pascoe and Mr Trengrouse's equipment)
- Rope (string) making
- Badge and hat making
- Pirate sing-song  (with a sing-off between the Scurvy Dogs and the Bloodthirsty Buccaneers)
- Midnight feast (with llights off immediately afterwards)
... somewhere in the middle of this was a little sleep followed by a HiDiHi wakeup call from Debs, a Scooby Doo movie and some breakfast.

People slept wherever they liked. One family even took over the polar tent.

The whole thing was organised by the dynamic Education duo, seen here clutching John Henry, 'assisted' by Stuart who seems to have taken pity on one small child who missed out on the chocolate.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

A grisly challenge

Can you guess who was bearing all in the office today?

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

Arriving in the Main Hall one morning last week I found Milly and Andy crawling around on all fours. 'That's odd' I thought, 'you don't usually find Milly and Andy crawling around this time of the morning.' On closer inspection I found that they were sticking footprints of penguins and polar bears across the floor. Mily was looking quite, how shall I say, lithe and Andy was looking a little worse for wear. He looked up and growled 'Don't say a word.' Not that I was going to, diplomat that I am! I did suggest that they could borrow a live penquin and polar bear and paint their feet but I suppose there would be a Health and Safety issue. After all, penguins can give a nasty peck. The polar bear might be useful to see off a few obstreperous kids.

By the end of the morning I think they both deserved the Polar Medal, physiotherapy to their knees and a back massage. Offers to the Editor please. I'm first in the queue to treat Milly. As for Andy, he'll have to take pot luck.

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Two new First-Aiders



Congratulations to Kate & Debbie who both achieved their First Aid at Work qualification in April.

Thursday, 28 April 2011

Volunteers' 5 year celebration lunch

On 26 April a lunch was held for five volunteers who have completed 5 years of volunteering service with the Museum.

John Day, Rob Johnsey, Norma Dale, Peter Fowler and John Waters all received certificates acknowledging their achievement and will now be spotted wearing 5 year service badges.

Volunteers pictured here with their certificates are John Day, Rob Johnsey & Norma Dale.

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

New Wildlife Trust display in Tidal Zone

On Wednesday 20 April we installed a new display panel in Tidal Zone about the invasive marine species we have in our waters (unwelcome emits of the sea). It certainly brightens up the cold grey wall a bit. This was a collaborative project between us and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust – entirely funded by them.

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Polar bear heads for Cornwall

Last year the local newspapers reported that a polar bear had been washed up on the north coast of Cornwall. It turned out to be a false alarm: merely the carcass of some unfortunate cow that had been lost off a cliff.

Evidence of polar bears were spotted in Falmouth recently, and that evidence has led to some confusion and debate. Were they actually polar bear tracks? Why were they spaced as they were? Why was the polar bear apparently accompanied by a small dinosaur?

Some of you will think that putting on an exhibition and laying a trail to the North and South Poles was a simple matter. Far from it. The polar bear tracks show just how complicated things can get. To make the tracks we needed to know the size of a polar bear's footprint. They are not known for their forgiving and cooperative nature. One cannot simply go up to a polar bear in Newquay and say 'Please can I measure your foot?' At least not if one wishes to live much longer.

Thankfully we have friends in high places. messages were sent to friends: to one at the Natural History Museum and to a former Director of a wildlife park and zoo. Back came advice and suggestions, including a photograph of the underside of an Emperor penguin's foot. That was a start. But how do they walk? What do the trails look like?

We recruited YouTube. Hours of diligent research found some wonderful picture of the bears running and walking. We ignored the John West Salmon advertisements which were quite clearly men dressed up as bears. Experiments were carried out around the office with Milly finally perfecting the polar bear gait, much to the amusement of her colleagues. Their 'arms' and legs have an unusual pattern of movement which seems perfectly sensible when you think of their size. Andy then created a handy measuring stick to asses the length of the stride. Things were looking up.

It took the Andy and Milly more than a day to plot the routes for the two animals, get the floors cleaned and the tracks laid down. And very wittily they have done it too. There are real stories in the tracks.

Both trails start from the centre of the Main Hall. Goodness knows what the two of them were doing there. It is better not to ask. The penguin - as a bird, a distant descendant of a dinosaur - sets off for the main stairs but gets distracted by the picture of a relation at the entrance to Base Camp. He - we think it is a he - pauses for a moment to pass the time of day and complain about the shipping that is cluttering up the ice nowadays, before heading for the stairs.

As he is unable to stride out, he jumps up each stair in turn, two footed. Interestingly, he goes up the right of the stairs, the same side as school children are encouraged  to mount the stiars, holding the rail with their right hands. Sadly we have no evidence as to whether he steadied himself with his flipper. Eventually, he finds his way to the South Pole and starts reading the exhibition about some of the people who think they can plant sheds, bring ponies and dogs, go for a walk, plant flags on his nice ice and alongside his rookery. 'Yet another film crew huddled up in their brightly-coloured jackets interrupting a nice ice storm by taking pictures of us in a huddle.'

The polar bear heads off in the opposite direction which is something of a relief for the penguin since the polar bear does look a bit large and might be hungry. Having read the tourism literature, she heads for Cornwall with her unusual lolloping gait. The large paw and small paw impressions alongside each other are not actually two bears but one. The two prints are made on separate moves of the legs, front paw and back paw and just happen to be alongside each other when a bear is doing more than a simple walk. She is obviously eager to reach her destination. (Andy can explain all in great detail if you want him to and Milly will demonstrate. Perhaps we should invite them to do a turn at the Christmas party). 

She  makes her way up the Cornwall staircase but this is not as simple as it sounds. A polar bear is a large creature and the stairs are designed for some strange bipedal creature. At the turn of each stair, she gathers herself for an enormous bound taking in several steps at one go and landing on her two feet. Eventually, she makes her way to the relative comfort of the North Pole where she settles down to find out about those strange humans that have invaded her land, popped up through the ice, broken up floes, walked immense distances with noisy dogs and generally caused havoc in her nice quiet, seal-ridden environment.

We think that these two will be around until October when their migratory instincts will kick in and they will be on their way. We do not know where they are sleeping but the volunteer lounge is mighty close to the polar bear's final tracks. If you run into either of them do treat them like any other member of the crew. One likes fish, the other a nice chunk of seal.




Wednesday, 20 April 2011

This other Eden ...

'This other Eden, demi-paradise?'

Falmouth's answer to the Bodelva quarry spotted on a sunny evening as the hamster balls quietly settled down for the night.
(With apologies to the Bard and John of Gaunt)

Friday, 8 April 2011

Farewell to Graham

An emotional farewell party for Graham included a Debs party game; an Angela cash box (Dutch money included); a picture, electric screwdriver and drill bits from everyone; yet another song from JG and a great speech from Graham, all in a room with a pirate theme.

As usual he was surrounded by lovely ladies, mostly in tears!

Graham's List

It was on a Monday morning that young Graham came to work
He knew a list awaited him which gave him lots of work
He looked up at Flotilla as he walked across the Hall
Saw the boats were full of clothing for there’d been a late-night ball
Oh it all makes work for the working man to do

It was on the Tuesday morning that his list began to grow
A wood-mail, signed by Milly, with some biscuits and a bow
There wasn’t time to read it; he was off to fetch a cat
From a naked man with jaffa cakes arranged around his hat
Oh it all makes work for the working man to do

Then on the Wednesday morning Mister Crockford holding court
Mr Lewis, back from Tragics, said ‘Look here what I have bought
‘Acrylic and some mdf, I think that’s all we need
But I can’t quite face the workshop so the mullet I shall feed
Oh it all makes work for the working man to do

It was on the Thursday morning that he started on his list
Or would have done if someone had not hit his bleeding fist
‘I’ve had enough of listening to the Volunteers rude lip
‘So I think I’ll go and rummage for some stuff from out the skip’.
Oh it all makes work for the working man to do

It was on the Friday morning, I found Milly in a heap
‘I’ve got a list for Graham that I thought of in my sleep
‘He doesn’t work on Fridays so I don’t know how to cope
I’ll have to leave a message and some cake and simply hope.
Oh it all makes work for the working man to do

On Saturdays and Sundays the days off are a perk
So ‘twas on the Monday morning that young Graham came to work.

With apologies to Flanders and Swan

Monday, 4 April 2011

Dawn raid

Early one Monday morning the Main Hall was looking a bit dark: light was definitely not making its way through the windows. Blocking out the light was the Matthew which had arrived the night before and ghosted around from Pendennis marina on a flat calm sea, taking over almost all of the pontoon.

This time she has shed her dragon's head and tail as the Dawn Treader and is back to her own self: a replica Tudor adventurer.

She will be with us until the end of April.

Men at work

Installing the South Pole on the Quarterdeck required some new grey walls on the first floor. Having carried the first one up the stairs amid many gruntings and groans, the team took Milly's very sensible advice (through gritted teeth) and used a ramp for the second and heavier one.
Undaunted by visitors (note them in the background), they trundled it through the Hold and up the ramp with Jim as look-out, safety officer and 'man with red flag'.

Friday, 1 April 2011

Duck!!

'The Libyan Navy invades Falmouth?'

'I must clean out that exhaust one day?'

'The RN lays down smoke to confuse the oyster boats?'

'The Look-out volunteer pops out for a quick fag?'

No ... HMS Campbeltown fires a last salute to Falmouth. Thanks to David Barnicoat for the photo.

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Thanks to the Exhibitions Team

by Colin Spargo

I'm trying desperately to be a 'A Grumpy Old Man'. Several of the volunteers told me off for criticising a certain person who didn't realise he was in charge of the Country when the Prime minister wasn't in the Country!

Anyway back to the subject. I actually enjoyed the On Thin Ice talk on Tuesday at 'Base Camp'. It was informative and understandable. Thankyou Ben and the powers that be for putting it together.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

For some time I've thought that there are too many volunteers with the same Christian names causing considerable confusion. Something needs to be done. One of my popular but rather absent-minded colleagues came in one morning and greeted his pals, getting their names mixed up. He was corrected of course but commented "Ah well, never mind, near enough." I know how he felt.

Something must be done about those with the same name. I suggest a re-Christening ceremony. The Waterfront would be an ideal venue, allowing for complete immersion of course. Bring your own cozzies although towels are available. We haven't got a museum padre but Jonathan would look good in a dog-collar. Of course I was here first so I'm exempt. I haven't investigated the ladies but I think the same applies. Now calm down gentlemen, you know the excitement is not good for you. I suggest a date for the ceremony should be 1st April.

Monday, 14 March 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

A couple of days before Christmas I went into The Hold to do my session and was not expecting to meet anyone as the Museum was exceptionally quiet. I was met with a riotous cacophony. 'Some kids have been let loose creating mayhem' I thought. Assuming my sternest countenance, I ventured into the gloom to remonstrate with the culprits only to find senior members of the establishment, including you know who, playing with the kid's building blocks and rubber balls. I won't say exactly what they were doing as it will only encourage other delinquents to copy their activities. As another grumpy old codger is known to say 'I don't believe it'.

Really gentlemen, I'll never complain about kids again. Well, not for a couple of weeks anyway.

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

More hard work

Maritime History students from CUC spend 20 hours learning about the Museum. All are welcome but some work harder than others.

Hard at work

Wot no hard hat? Life is tough without the Phils who are both off sick. But Trevor assures us he has done a risk assessment: he learned to swim as a nipper.

Thursday, 24 February 2011

Children!

The Fox's Ship Agent clerk was not so sure he enjoyed having lots of children in the Museum over half term.

NMMC Volunteer honoured with lifetime award

We offer our congratulations to John Draper, NMMC Gallery Volunteer, who has been appointed Admiral of the John Lewis Partnership Sailing Club.

The Club celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and John will be only the third person ever to receive this prestigious award. He has been a member of the club for 45 years and the John Lewis Chairman, Charlie Mayfield, has personally invited John to become Admiral of the Sailing Club in recognition of his length of membership and 'the tremendous support and encouragement' that he has given to the Club.

The Sandie Martyn Has Flown

By NMMC's In-House Poet

How can we cope without Sandie!
(in the room on the left, by the door)
She's there to hear our moans and confessions -
at least that's what I've used her for!

Sandie can be quite persuasive
and rules the roost well when she likes
(anyone who disagrees then
can just pedal off on their bikes!)

She can now stay in bed until lunchtime,
and get on with the rest of her life
totally free of the hassle
of Volunteer's troubles and strife.

We shall all miss her cheery good humour
but it's been quite an effort all year,
One's health is just far too important
and work doesn't help it, I fear!

I'm sure we shall see her on visits
(just checking that we're being good)
just obeying the rules (being nice to the schools)
Well, she knows that we would, if we could.

I hope we will all support Linda
her learning curve will be quie steep;
but provided she takes it all calmly
she shouldn't lose over much sleep!

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Leak what's happened to us

One of really great things about civilisation and the ascent of man is the way we have learned to improve things over the years. Our ancestors had to survive in draughty caves, huddled around fires; or had to make do with shutters because they could not afford glass for their windows. Later generations suffered because their windows did not fit.

Not so, for us lucky residents of the 21st century. Man has long ago learned how to make buildings wind and weather proof. One simply cannot imagine a modern museum where the draughts in the cafe are so strong that you need a fur coat in winter; or a tower which leaks so badly that the Tidal Zone had to be closed for several days because of the water pouring down the walls; or windows in an office that are so ill-fitting that they need to be bound up with sticky tape for six months of the year. No, this could never happen. Not in a modern building.

And it could never be that a short sharp fall of rain could run down the outside of the building and find a way in through the windows and soak the office sitting area. That simply could not happen. This picture must simply show a modern art installation. Those buckets can surely not be used to collect the rain could they. Could they?

Still it keeps Trevor and the Phils happy. Although they did say that they would wait until the rain had stopped before going out onto the roof to disocver the cause. Chickens!

Now, where am I on the furious scale ... ?

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

How furious are you?

I was feeling mildly miffed about something the other day when I came across the following in a letter to the newspaper from someone called Sierra Hutton-Wilson of Evercreech, Somerset:

'Now that even the banks profess to be "livid", another major step of the Big Society's vision of inclusivity has been achieved. I think we can safely say that, between them, all three major parties have now succeeded in enraging the whole country – universal suffrage has delivered universal suffering.

'Perhaps the quango tasked with measuring our degree of happiness could usefully be redirected to explore the level of fury throughout the land, with a scale of 1 to 10:

1. Faintly Irritated (banks, at having to fork out anything after those payments to Party funds).
2. Rather Cross (rich mothers losing child benefit).
3. Quietly Desperate (pensioners, savers, small businesses).
4. Fit to Bust (anyone dealing with a service provider or government department).
5. Outraged (trades unions and public service workers, charities).
6. Seething (the armed forces).
7. On the Streets (Peaceful) (librarians, ramblers).
8. On the Streets (Smash it Up) (students, anarchists, police).
9. Furious, Terrified, Desperate (everyone not yet mentioned).
10 Apoplectic (universal response to any mention of bank bonuses, bankers excepted).'

I could not find 'mildly miffed' and promptly cheered up.

Monday, 14 February 2011

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

It was with great fortitude that I rose from my sick bed early one morning last week to inform the DM of my malady. I couldn't stand the thought of the DM's gnashing teeth if she had to rewrite the rota, or my grumpy colleagues wandering around muttering 'Now where should I be?' Sorry chaps, what I meant was my conscientious friends having to reorientate themselves.

It's good to see Enterprise 2 hanging in the Main Hall. I used to race No. 3303 in the 1950s. I won't tell you what her name was. It has completely changed its connotation in the last fifty years. Amazing how the English language changes in such a short time. On one occasion I had a 14 stone Staff Nurse as a crew. We gybed around a mark and she went down with a thud onto the side deck. There was a sickening 'crack' as the under frame split. After that she decided to go on a slimming diet.

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Can you help us out?

When Graham was cleaning the hanging boats in January, he came across an unusual item of clothing lying in one of the boats: a thong or g-string. Strangely, we have not yet had a lost property request.
Let us suppose, for sake of argument, that the item belonged to some young lady. How do you think it got there? The boat would have been well out of reach if she and her suitor wanted to indulge in any hankypanky at an event. Did someone throw it there? When? Why? And what happened to the young lady thereafter?

To spare your blushes, we have not illustrated the item here.

If you can shed any light on this mystery, please let Amy know as we are keen to return the lost property to its rightful owner. If it is yours then Amy is prepared to keep very quiet for a small consideration.

Monday, 7 February 2011

The real stars

The real stars of the Volunteer party were the staff who rushed around working hard to ensure that their guests had all the food and drink they needed.

Special thanks to Stuart (who had taken off is dragon suit for the photo), Graham, Harriet (a geisha girl?), Andy, Chris, Angela, Dayna, Linda, Sandie and Kung-Fu Emily.

In the absence of the Museum Poet, the Director indulged his (in)ability to write bad rhymes in welcoming the guests with:

Good evening colleagues young and old
A merry evening here behold.

To China we must turn our way
And spend an evening being gay
With Crouching Tigers in the Air
And Hidden Dragons everywhere.
The new year’s here of this I’m sure
A new year mild, no tooth nor claw
For Tiger’s year we’ve left behind
And Rabbits are so dreadfully kind.
What e’er your sign, you’re welcome here
A rooster, ox or panda bear
A snake or horse, a dog or boar
A goat or rat; there are some more.
Enough!
I hear your hunger calling out.
Your thirst is like an Aussie drought.
The new year’s here and full of fun
And so, dear friends, to food please come.

Saturday, 5 February 2011

Farewell to Sandie and Graham

At the Volunteer party, our Director unwisely decided to sing a farewell to two people who are retiring in the coming months. The choice of tune was influenced by the Chinese theme to the party but he clearly does not understand that Titipu is not in China. To the tune of Tit Willow:

In a museum in Falmouth you all know quite well
Worked Graham and Sandie, Ms Martyn
The time we have reached when we must say farewell
To Graham and Sandie, Ms Martyn
These two are both wonders that all of us know
And we really, yes really don’t want them to go
But they seem very clear that they really must; so
We’ll miss them, we’ll miss them, we’ll miss them.

In her office retreat, lovely Sandie in tears
Was sobbing, was sighing, was sobbing.
I said to her, Sandie, dear, tell me your fears
Not sobbing, nor sighing, nor sobbing.
Has a volunteer upset you, Sandie? I cried,
Or is it because I your patience have tried?
With a shake of her elegant head she replied,
I’ll miss chatting, and chatting and chatting.

In the workshop below her a banging was heard
And chipping and chopping and chipping.
There Graham was working alongside Ralph Bird
Just chopping, and chipping and chopping.
I said to him, Graham what’s that you’ve just made
Does it come from your past in the great motor trade?
With a shake of his poor little head he then say-ed:
I’ll miss chopping, (and Milly) and chopping.

The end of this song is I think a good cue
Though sobbing, and sighing and sobbing.
To say a fond farewell to you and to you,
Though sobbing and sighing and sobbing.
I have no idea how exhibits’ll get built,
Or who will tell me of my Personnel guilt,
But with deepest affection that years will not wilt
We’ll miss you, we’ll miss you, we’ll miss you.

As one listener said after the performance 'Stick to the day job'. Well at least he did not tell the Director to retire too.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Curator's trail

A new trail will be appearing over the next few days. Here is one of the first of the new labels, written by Sarah Riddle and describing some of her favourite objects in very personal terms.

The aim is to make our displays a bit more personal and to inspire a human feeling to some of our labels.

We will probably be looking for someone - a member, a child, a volunteer, a stranger - to produce a similar trail later in the year.

Hard at work

It is always good to see great striding minds hard at work, tapping away on their keyboards making the maritime world turn and advancing the Museum's cause. Just look at those empty soup bowls, the patterns licked off because of the deliciousness of Karen's soup; the coffee cups drained of their last arabica bean; the look of eagerness to get back to the drawing board written all over their faces.

Never let it be said that we did not  appreciate such commitment.