An August Afternoon at Hitchin Museum – by Barbara Bullen

14 August 2009

As I enter the Museum to begin my afternoon duty, standing in for a colleague who is on holiday, the morning’s minor irritations and worries fall away, and once again I am absorbed into the magical word of being a Visitor Services Officer.

Tiny tots tumble in and run about, before being constrained by anxious mothers, grandmothers and other relatives, who fear for the coming night’s nightmares. It is the Dr Who exhibition!

The strains of the theme tune come echoing across the hall and evoke smiles from superior granddads, uncles and aunts – their behind the sofa memories are rekindled.

Bored teenagers want to be elsewhere – but where? They turn the boxed Collectors’ items over and seem to drift in and out of consciousness.

Visitors long to tell me where they have come from – Australia, California – we have a brief discussion of the bankrupted state – what will happen in the San Fernando valley now, where will the silicon industry go?

I remember old black and white cowboy films, with the sheriff galloping round and round the same starkly magnificent mountains – possibly in Utah? And we children all shouting “Head them off at the pass!”.

Quiz sheets are completed (it is the holidays!)

Other features are explored, giving rise to ….
“Do I know? How does this work? Where is the library? It is just next door!

An ambulance screams by with flashing blue lights – on it’s ways to a very different scene. I silently say a prayer.

It is almost closing time – and time to lock up, switch off the lights and set alarms. And go home – but wait – the telephone rings, last minute checks from adults planning tomorrow’s outings : Will you be open tomorrow? “Yes and give details”. “No there is no charge”, “We look forward to seeing you”.

The weather forecast is rain – we shall be very busy again.

Barbara Bullen 4th August 2009

We are very shocked and saddened to hear that Barbara Bullen, a long time VSA and friend of the Museum passed away on the 12th October.  Indivdually and as a service we will miss her deeply. We all have fond memories of her professionalism, warmth, kindness and humour, whilst working here at the front desk, where we all regarded her as a friend, as well as a colleague. She loved the Museums and the history of the town,  and this came across in everything that she did.

The following is a tribute written by her colleague, Jacky Birch.

“After Barbara retired from the Museum Service, she volunteered at the British Schools Museum in Queen Street, where she could be found reading her book, while on Headmaster’s House-sitting duties or at the reception desk. She also helped at various evening events, and was a regular at our monthly team meetings. She was present at the October meeting on the Monday before she died. Barbara was always cheerful, with a smile on her face, and will be sadly missed at the British Schools Museum” (Jacky Birch, Admin Asst, British Schools Museum, Hitchin Museum VSA”

Gill Marshall, who worked with Barbara at Letchworth Museum, has this to say about her.

“I first met Barbara over 5 years ago at Letchworth Museum and have worked with her at both museums. She had quite a dry sense of humour and we shared many a giggle. When my mother was dying, she sent me a poem to my house, which she said had helped her through her beloved husband’s passing. That act of kindness will stay with me forever. God bless you Barbara”.

Ted Stonard (1919-2013)

Staff at Letchworth Museum were very sad to hear that our longest-serving volunteer, Ted Stonard, had passed away at the end of September. He had kept in touch since deciding to “have a rest” from volunteering, and had spoken of visiting us during the summer.

You may have seen the article about Ted in this year’s Spring Outlook Magazine: http://www.north-herts.gov.uk/outlook_spring_2013_web-2.pdf , which profiled Ted, and how he had volunteered for the museum for almost 30 years.

A Londoner by birth, Ted moved to Stevenage in 1952 where he continued to live with wife Doreen. As a young man, Ted lived through some of the most crucial events of the Second World War; he was at Dunkirk and at Alamein, and was a prisoner of war in Italy and Poland. Ted donated his memoirs and photographs to the Second World War Experience Centre near Weatherby, so you can read extracts and see some of them online:

http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/dunkirk/

http://www.war-experience.org/history/keyaspects/nafrica0642/pagetwo.asp

Ted retired from a career at British Aerospace in the 1980s, and saw an advertisement for volunteers at Letchworth Museum. This was when the museum was involved in excavations in Baldock. He had always been interested in archaeology and history, so thought he would apply:

“I had a fantastic time digging, sorting through artefacts, repairing pottery and cleaning. The dig lasted about eight months, and then I just decided to stay on…”

When asked why he had volunteered for so long, Ted said that it was because of his interest in history, and because over the years he has been made to feel so welcome, meeting so many nice people along the way. Staff will be attending his funeral tomorrow. We will all miss him very much.

Ted’s farewell tea party at Letchworth Museum in 2012