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  • Staff use of Pool Vehicles

    The museum has a small fleet of modern vehicles which are available for business use. These range in size from a small Seat car, to a large Citroen van capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,300 kg. All have manual gearboxes and can be driven on a full ‘Cat B’ car licence.

    When using these pool vehicles staff are reminded that:

    • The drivers log book contained inside the cab of each vehicle must be filled in and signed before setting off.
    •  It is your responsibility to report any faults or damage whilst the vehicle is in your possession.
    • You must carry out a check prior to driving, making sure all lights are working, tyres are safe and legal, windscreen undamaged and clear, bodywork and trim secure.
    • Drivers must carry their valid driving licence.
    • The vehicle must be driven in a safe and responsible manner, complying with licence, highway regulations, road conditions and any height or weight restrictions.
    • A fuel card is kept inside each vehicle along with useful information such as who to call in the unlikely event of a breakdown.
    • Upon returning to the museum please remove all personal items, leaving the interior in a clean and tidy condition.
    • The log book must be completed and any damage reported to the Transport Manager.
    • If involved in a road traffic accident or any other incident while driving a museum vehicle then the Duty Manager and your Line Manager should be informed immediately. Details must be recorded on an incident form (kept inside the log book) and returned to the Museum. Please refer to the accident checklist (also kept inside the log book) which will help you keep safe and gather information for our insurers.

    To check the availability of each vehicle and arrange a booking, please go to the dedicated calendars on Outlook. – If a pool vehicle is not available you do have the option of using your own vehicle. This is on the understanding you have business cover on your personal insurance policy (normally an add-on you have to pay for) and have checked with your line manager that there is sufficient budget to cover your claim.

    Where practical, public transport should always be prioritised as the preferred method for undertaking a journey.

  • Black History Month Event: When I came to England

    Join us on Thursday 24 October for a celebration of Black History, where you will have the opportunity to listen to Z. Nia Reynolds, author, cultural curator and filmmaker.

    Her book ‘When I came to England’ portrays an oral history anthology of life in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s told by those who came in search of life, love and lifestyle…a long way from home. Full of hope, humour and honesty, this gives a fascinating insight into post-war British society. This event will inform and support the collection of Migration stories as part of our major development project, BCLM: Forging Ahead.

    Following the interval, we will host an authentic fashion show featuring garments worn during the 50’s and the swinging 60s. This fashion show gives an insight about the lives of Black people arriving in Britain at that time. Samantha Prescott, Artistic Director and Founder of ‘Fashion, Talent & Black History Showcase’ will share an informative account of what it was like for migrant communities at the time.

    Time: 7.00-10.30 pm

    For more information, and to book your place, please contact: Glenis Williams, Community Engagement Manager [email protected]

  • September Directors’ Bi-Monthly Report

    September Directors’ Bi-Monthly Report

    Please note, the Director’s Bi-monthly Report is now available to view online

  • BCLM Forging Ahead: Laurie Thomas Hairdressers

    Black Country Living Museum is looking for memories from the 1950s of Laurie Thomas hairdressers – a barbers and ladies salon based in Burnt Tree, Tividale Road, Tipton. The Museum plans to recreate the hairdressers as part of its ambitious new development project BCLM: Forging Ahead.

    The recreated hairdressers will be set in 1956, and visitors will be able to learn about the growth of hairdressing, the rise of popular fashions and the changing role of women in society.

    Established in 1904, Laurie’s was well-known and much-loved within the local community.  The shop was opened by Joseph Thomas and was taken over by his son, Laurence Arden Roland Thomas, known to many as ‘Laurie’. The family tradition has been carried on with Laurie’s grandson running a traditional barbers to this day.

    Laurie’s shop was small but bustling, with only two chairs for cuts. After Laurie married Phyllis Orton in 1933, she went to Birmingham College to study hairdressing and opened up a ladies’ salon in the back room. She was later joined in the business by her daughter, Kay.

    The Thomases had a familial relationship with their customers; generations of families came through the shop doors, some of whom still go to the barbers to this day. Laurie was well known locally as a ‘character’ and was loved by everyone. He was always happy to help those in need and he had dreamed of working as a doctor but could not afford the training – however, his medical knowledge saved both his daughter’s life and that of a car accident victim. Male customers would be offered refreshments on busy Saturdays and on special occasions. Laurie also placed a radio on the top shelf in the window and brought out a television for customers to follow key events, such as the cup final. Ladies were offered tea and biscuits upon arrival and Phyllis would often put extra groceries into customer’s bags if she knew they needed them. Kay spent much of her childhood in the shop. She enjoyed the attention she received from Phyllis’ customers, and called many of them ‘aunty’.

    The post-war period saw new styles emerge in leading salons, often based around shorter hair than had been common before the war. However, this required more frequent, expensive haircuts and treatments. Therefore, in an age of austerity these styles were slower to catch on in areas such as the Black Country. The 1950s and 1960s saw tremendous growth in the hairdressing trade with working class women increasingly using hairdressers, spending more on their personal appearance than ever before.

    To help us in our recreation, we would love to talk to anyone with memories of the hairdressers. Do you remember Laurie Thomases? Did you or your parents go there to get the latest hair cut?

    Please get in touch with us by emailing: [email protected]  or call 0121 557 9643.

    For more information about BCLM: Forging Ahead, please visit: www.bclm.com/forgingahead .

  • Updating your personal information

    Don’t forget to inform the People & Culture team of any changes in personal details including a change of address, change in telephone number, updating emergency contact details and a change in bank account details. It is important that we have the most up to date and correct information on file.

    If you need to update any of your personal information, the relevant forms can be found under the ‘Documents’ tab above under ‘Forms: For Staff’ and should be sent to [email protected] on completion or passed onto a member of the People & Culture team.

    For details on how we use your personal information please refer to the Museum’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Policy.

  • Pre Paid Flu Jab Vouchers

    The Museum is committed to providing a healthy working environment and improving the quality of working lives for all staff and volunteers. As part of our continuing efforts under the umbrella of ‘Health and Wellbeing’ of all our staff and volunteers, we are pleased to confirm that prepaid flu jabs vouchers are available for anyone wishing to have one. The vouchers are redeemable at Boots outlets.

    If you would like a voucher please contact any of the People & Culture team (Ben/Sukhi/Ricki/Hayley) based at Rolfe Street or feel free to approach us if you see us on site.

  • Team Manager Station Information

    A new team manager station chart has been added to the intranet documents folder following on from the appointment Anna Pavard and Alexandra Jolly.  It can be found in information/museum organisation/team manager distribution.

    The chart is also on display in Doo’s staff room and the Guide Hut.

  • Black Country History Day – Ticket Offer

    Black Country History Day – Ticket Offer

    We are delighted to offer 15 tickets to BCLM staff to attend a ‘Black Country History Day’, taking place at the University of Birmingham on Saturday 9 November 2019.

    The event is led by one of the Museum’s trustees, Dr Malcolm Dick OBE (Director of the Centre for West Midlands History, University of Birmingham).

    This is a ticketed event and the Museum is offering 15 prepaid individual tickets for our staff. These will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Please contact any of the People & Culture team to register your interest: pop in to see us in Rolfe Street, or email: [email protected] grab any one of us as we wander around site or at morning briefings. 

    To find out more about the event and how to purchase tickets for friends or family visit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/historycultures/departments/history/events/2019/black-country-day-2019.aspx

  • Thank you for making Peaky Blinders Nights a roaring success

    Thank you for making Peaky Blinders Nights a roaring success

    We love Peaky Blinders.  However, I am very conscious that the evenings put stresses and strains on us and the site.  I want to acknowledge that and say how appreciative I am of everyone’s efforts – whatever your role at the Museum – to make the evenings such a roaring success for our loyal visitors and fans of the show. 

    It seems that the phenomenon is set to endure for a few years to come, and we’ll hopefully, continue to be regarded as the home of Peaky Blinders.  Although I know it will be a welcome break until the next time.

    Thank you again.

    Andrew

  • Oldest Volunteer Celebrates 90th Birthday

    After a lifetime of working with cars from an early years apprenticeship through to volunteering with the Motor Vehicle Team at Black Country Living Museum, Keith Peckmore may have recently celebrated his 90th birthday but is as committed as ever to volunteering one day a week with the team.

    A previous regular at the Classic Car Motor Show at the NEC, due to take place this year on 8-10 November, Keith has enjoyed a long and distinguished career developing and building classic British sports cars for Kieft and Frisky.

    Keith recently celebrated his 90th Birthday and has been volunteering at Black Country Living Museum for eight years after a lifetime of working with in the motor industry. Born and bred in the Black Country, he started his career at the age of 15 when he began a five year apprenticeship in his father’s business, studying three nights a week at Dudley Technical College.

    Keith served in the Army during the war and joined Wolverhampton based Kieft Sports and Racing Car in 1952. He started as a specialist welder building a chassis for their Grand Prix car and also built complete sports cars.

    He moved to Frisky Cars in Wolverhampton in 1956 as a project development engineer for the Bug, the Gullwing, the Frisky Sport/Coupe, Family Three and the Frisky Sprint. Sadly Frisky cars declined in popularity with the arrival of the mini. Keith followed in his father’s entrepreneurial footsteps setting up and running a family garage undertaking Maserati and Aston Martin engine rebuilds.

    A long time visitor to the Museum Keith always came to the last Sunday of every July for the Festival of Black Country Vehicles. On one of his visits he saw an advert for volunteers and decided to apply. As a volunteer he re-assembled, resprayed and restored the Frisky Sport which was in a box in pieces. It now takes pride of place on display in Bradburn & Wedge.

    Keith loves volunteering at the museum and mixing with staff and visitors and says he wouldn’t miss it for the world.