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Category: People News

  • People News – November 2024

    People News – November 2024

    Welcomes

    In early November, we were delighted to welcome Donna Bloomer to the Programme Development Team as a Little Makers Tutor.

    This month we also welcomed a number of casual Enterprise Team Members to the Museum following a successful partnership with the Skill-Shop Merryhill, and Dudley College. This wonderful initiative has allowed us to offer positions to those in the local community seeking employment.

    Additionally, we’re pleased to introduce new casual team members to our Admissions Team, who have joined us as Visitor Welcome & Admissions Team Members.

    Please do say hello if you see these new faces on site.

    Farewells

    At the end of October we said goodbye to Jenny Barton, Visitor Welcome & Admissions Team Member who left the admissions team.

    Earlier this month, we also bid farewell to Franc Marrocco, Enterprise Team Manager (Gift), after 7 impactful years at the Museum. Franc joined us in October 2017 as a casual demonstrator in the Transport Team, progressed to Retail Manager in 2018, and ultimately became Enterprise Team Manager (Gift) in 2021.

    Also this month, Loren Dunn and Ellie Elliott, both Enterprise Team Members, departed the Enterprise Team.

    We extend our thanks to each of them for their contributions and wish them all the very best.

  • Merryhill Skill Shop & Dudley College initiative

    Merryhill Skill Shop & Dudley College initiative

    We’re excited to share our recent collaboration with the Merryhill Skill Shop and Dudley College to train and recruit job seekers from the Dudley community. This partnership allowed us to connect with some truly talented individuals, and we’re thrilled to welcome 7 new colleagues to our team in casual positions.
    Throughout the process – which included a week of customer service training, trial shifts, and final interviews – these candidates demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and dedication.
    We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future. If you see our new team members on-site, be sure to give them a warm welcome!
  • Andrew Lovett appointed to ACE National Council

    Andrew Lovett appointed to ACE National Council

    Arts Council England has appointed our Chief Executive, Andrew Lovett OBE, to the Arts Council England (ACE) National Council.

    Made up of 15 members who are also charitable trustees, ACE National Council includes its National Chair (Sir Nicholas Serota) and the five chairs of its area councils.

    It is responsible for ensuring the achievement of ACE objectives, to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts, and to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public. The council decide on policy and priorities and invest money in artists and art organisations directly and through the area councils.

    Members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, usually for four years.

    Congratulations, Andrew! 👏

  • People News – October 2024

    People News – October 2024

    Welcomes

    Aleena Pitt joined the Enterprise team as a supervisor in September.

    Earlier this month John Brookes joined the Historic Character team as a Heritage Driver.

    We also welcomed a number of casuals across Enterprise and Events.

    Please join us in welcoming our new colleagues to the Museum.

    Leavers

    Richard Wilkins, Multi-skilled maintenance operative left us this month.

  • Anne Stringer – 35 years with us!

    Anne Stringer – 35 years with us!

    For the past 35 years, Ann Stringer has been an integral part of the museum, dedicating most of her career to working in the mine. As the Mine Supervisor for most of this time, Ann’s hard work has been invaluable. Recently, she has transitioned to supporting our Historic Character team, where her experience continues to make a meaningful impact. We are immensely grateful for Ann’s contributions and look forward to many more years of her involvement in the museum’s story. Thank you, Ann!

  • Well done – Lisa and Melanie

    Well done – Lisa and Melanie

    A huge well done to Lisa and Melanie, who represented the Museum in the ‘Walk for Wellbeing’ last Sunday. The event, organised by Hospitality Action, involved a challenging 12 mile walk, and the pair successfully completed it, raising an impressive £227 for the cause.

  • People News – September 2024

    People News – September 2024

    Welcomes
    Earlier this month David Middlemiss officially joined us as Director of Development and External Affairs after several transition days where he spent time getting to know the Museum and its teams.
    Lorna Williams, Programme Development Manager (Learning) joins the Programme Development team on a fixed term contract.
    Katy Jasper-Schmidt joined the Engagement Operations team as Team Manager (Historic Characters).
    In addition, Stuart Attwood, Loren Dunn, Jack Pearson, Ellie Vernum, Ellie Elliott , Elizabeth Taylor and Mizan Faizan join the Museum as Enterprise Team Members.
    Please join us in welcoming our new colleagues to the Museum.
    Leavers
    Grace Taylor, our Business Reception Administrator leaves us this month when her fixed term contract comes to an end. We wish her all the best.
  • John H Hughes (1943-2024)

    John H Hughes (1943-2024)

    With sadness, yesterday we received news John Hughes passed away last week aged 81.

    Some of you will remember John was the Chair of the Board for nine years (2006-2015) having joined the Board in 2004. John was committed to the Museum and the positive impact of its cause, and dearly loved the company of Black Country folk. John was central to modernising and strengthening the Board of Trustees, and further professionalising our organisation. He also helped to navigate and find the sweet spot of simultaneously being a successful museum, charity and visitor attraction.

    After John retired from the Board, he and his wife Carol continued to be regular visitors to the Museum, supporting many of our events and occasions. John also generously funded training grants for staff at the Museum over a number of years after retiring.

    John received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton (Faculty of Social Sciences) in 2013, recognising his work in industry and at the Museum.

    John will be remembered with affection and admiration; a feeling shared, we are sure, by others at the Museum.

    Rest in Peace.

    Andrew Lovett OBE
    Chief Executive

    Dr Paul Belford
    Chair of Trustees

  • Milestone anniversary for Paul

    Milestone anniversary for Paul

    Paul Raybould, our senior mechanic, is marking an impressive milestone this August – it has been 50 years since he first began his career as an apprentice!

    On 5 August 1974, at the age of 16, Paul started his apprenticeship at Bradburn & Wedge, a Wolverhampton garage that was founded in 1915 by William Howard Bradburn out of a former horse tramp depo on Darlington Street.

    Paul’s career has now come full circle, as he’s back working within a Bradburn & Wedge garage again – in our workshop based on the frontage of the Darlington Street premise.

    “I’m incredibly proud to have started my career at Bradburn & Wedge and to now be finishing it working on these beautiful old vehicles,” Paul says. “It’s come full circle in the best possible way.”

    Congratulations, Paul!

  • People News – July 2024

    People News – July 2024

    Welcomes

    Earlier this month we welcomed Matthew Cowpe (pictured) as Head of Collections & Interpretation. Matthew comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge from the Royal Armouries Museum, University of Birmingham and the National Trust.

    In addition, Jenny Barton joins the Visitor Welcome & Admissions team as a Visitor Welcome & Admissions Team Member, and Joshua Hughes joins the Maintenance team as a Multi-skilled Maintenance Operative.

    Leavers

    Louise Weaver and Tracey Power from the Cleaning & Recycling team both leave us this month. We wish them all the best.

    Sadly departed

    We were recently informed of the sad news that Jean Ambrose, a previous colleague who left the Museum in 2014 after 30 years of service, passed away at the end of last year. Our deepest sympathies to Jean’s family and friends.