Curator's Cabinet

A new Curator's Cabinet has appeared on the second floor outside the Lecture Theatre. As it says on the header, it is designed to show off new additions to the collection (although we might cheat from time to time).

New items do not always go straight onto display and this will allow us to show them off on arrival, get press coverage and display our thanks to the donors. It may be a slightly eclectic display in future, therefore, but all the more fun as a result.

In this picture, Volunteer Jessica is mounting the first exhibition of artefacts recently collected from Margaret Dye in Norwich, all of which relate to Frank and his sailing. Jessica is presently working her way through the two trunks of slides we have received, trying to put them in some sort of order and work out what they show. It is a whole life story in pictures but sadly without a narrator.

Don't miss the great cartoon or the vinyl on the side of the case: a picture of our wonderful curator complete with white coat, glasses and cupid-bow red lips. Dead realistic.

Origin of research enquiries for year 2010

by Geoff Douglas

Below is a list of the countries from which enquiries were received by the library in 2010. These are only the enquiries entered into the Research Enquiry System, not enquiries dealt with immediately over the phone or for personal visits to the library. In total 252 enquiries were received and dealt with, some received via the museum website, others via e-mail, snail mail, telephone or personal visit.

As you would expect most of the enquiries are of British origin, the rest are varied and from all over the world. Some of them were simple enquiries taking a short time to deal with, others were extensive and took a considerable amount of work. The break down is as follows.

Australia 15
Canada 8
Cayman Islands 1
Chile 1
Eire 1
France 1
Germany 1
Hong Kong 1
Isle of Scilly 2
New Zealand 5
Netherlands 1
Orange Free State 1
South Africa 1
Spain 1
Switzerland 1
Tasmania 1
UK 200
USA 9
Uknown 1

To put this into context, we have over 3000 records going back to 1988 including those from the old Maritime Museum. The yearly average between 1988 and 2002 was 33 per year, with one particularly busy year, 1999, when 137 enquiries were dealt with.

The yearly totals increased dramatically after the opening of NMMC:
2003 373
2004 319
2005 312
2006 288
2007 295
2008 290
2009 279
2010 252 (one for every working day)

Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

The party season is well under way. As usual the catering staff are working their aprons off to provide us with festive fayre. Many thanks to them.

The gentlemen's lunch was the usual convivial affair with sparkling conversation and good humoured banter. The ladies' lunch and the education staff party competed for the highest decibel level. I think the latter won by a fraction of a decibel despite the fact they were only having mince pies; or so they tell us. Stuart was very protective of his educationalists but I have several witnesses to confirm the results, who for security reasons remain annoymous. Of course they have plenty of practice with all those screaming children.

A request has been submitted that for next year's parties ear protectors be supplied for staff on duty. Now ladies, calm down. I'm only thinking of the health and safety of my colleagues. You know how vulnerable we are to stress which results in our early demise. Emily, can I have the next month off please?

Liners & Cruise Ships Ahoy 2011

by Clive S Mathison Galleries Volunteer

Those who are on duty in the 'Lookout' throughout 2011 will be able to extol the development of Falmouth Docks as a 'cruise ship' rendezvous. There are some 33 visits of cruise ships carrying 22,402 passengers between January and November including The World an exotic floating residence which visited Falmouth about 2 years ago (see photograph) and caused astonishment as the Captain negotiated the huge vessel with ease through our docks area.

About The World liner
This Norwegian-built liner serves as a residential community for people from around 40 different countries. The owners buy a space for prices ranging from £500,000 to £13 million and live on board as the liner circumnavigates the globe. It is very demecratic: the passengers and Captain decide where the ship will visit and what the passengers will do ashore whilst in each port where they stay for around two to five days at a time.

The ship has some 280 passengers and residents, and a crew of about 350. 196 metres long, it has 12 decks, two of which are reserved for shopping and leisure. There are also restaurants cafes, theatre, casino and nightclub.

Cruise Ships Visiting Falmouth in 2011
An advanced list of cruise ships visiting Falmouth will be displayed in the Volunteers Lounge so that you can keep yourself up to date with arrivals and departures. The World is scheduled to arrive in Falmouth on 30 May 2011 at 1800 hours with 100 passengers.

The Arctic Museum

by the NMMC Resident Poet

The temperature across the Square
was more than purely chilly
It ate into my very bones
and even reached my chest.

I’ve worn my fleece since breakfast time
and long-johns underneath,
I think a tot of whisky now
would stop my chattering teeth.

In Front of House they have some heat
it’s warm there all the day,
The Office is quite comfy too
(It’s HOT AIR, so they say!!)

I wander through Main Hall & Hold
I wave my arms about,
It looks a bit peculiar
but keeps the cold drafts out.

On Waterfront the pool is still,
the boats are moored today,
I’ve covered up the Token Slot
to keep the folk away.

I’ve bribed the Duty Manager
like other people did,
I’m Lift Attendant for the shift
(was worth it for a quid).

It’s warm and keeps you moving
and at the second floor
I nip to have my coffee,
Could anyone want more!!!