Thank you to everyone that attended the Forging Ahead All Staff Briefings that took place on Mon 12, Tue 13 and Wed 21 June.
Please find the Forging Ahead video and presentation below for you to enjoy and watch in your own time.
Forging Ahead All Staff Briefings Presentation
Journey of Forging Ahead internal video ☟
Welcomes
Early April we welcomed Kate Goode and Martin Crage, Site Cleaners, to our Cleaning & Porterage team. Both bring many years of commercial cleaning experience.
Josh Cuthbert joined our Enterprise as Head Chef/Team Manager (Production). Josh has over 10 years’ experience in the catering industry including a wealth of kitchen management experience from previous roles.
Last month we also welcomed a number of casual colleagues in our Car Park, Enterprise and Historic Character teams.
Looking ahead, in May we will be having Rhi Edwards join our Interpretation & Research team as Interpretation Coordinator. Rhi will be starting a fixed-term contract at the Museum over the next 12 months to support with the Forging Ahead project. Rhi comes from the Stourbridge Glass Museum where they worked as an Assistant Curator.
We also want to congratulate a number of colleagues who, after our most recent Historic Character recruitment, will be taking up permanent posts this month: Ajay Pall, Amit Persaud, Andrea Williams, Bryce Bealey, Matthew Robinson, Geoff Nixon, Sebastian Edwards, Jack Price, Hannah Marrocco-Pearson, Oliver Clee, and Sam Payne.
Farewells
Huw Davis (Project Manager) and Andy Curtis ( Clerk of Works) will sadly be leaving us this month now that the New Historic Town is finally built. Both Huw and Andy’s enthusiasm, dedication and most of all construction knowledge have been central to bringing alive the Museum’s Forging Ahead vision. We extend our sincere thanks to both Andy and Huw for their hard work, patience and perseverance and wish them well in their next venture.
Matt Hunton, Site Cleaner, also left at the end of April after 5 and a half years, to further develop his career in maintenance/carpentry within the social housing sector.
This week, Beki Challoner leaves her role as Visitor Welcome Manager. Beki managed the Museum’s Admissions function over the last 18 months, one of her most notable achievements was supporting and facilitating the opening of the Visitor Welcome Centre. Beki will be relocating to Northampton and taking on a new senior management role at Silverstone Museum.
Our sincere thanks and well wishes to all.
Sadly Departed
Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of colleagues who sadly departed over the last month:
Sheila Shipman (Historic Character and Friends of BCLM Member, from 1980 to 2019)
Maurice Parker (Friends of President Member, from 1985 to 2023)
Event overview
Date(s): From Sat 6 – Mon 8 May
Concept:
“There’s a Coronation party – and you’re invited! Become a part of our Coronation community at the Black Country Living Museum and experience what it was like to celebrate our monarchs over time and across the commonwealth.”
The whole site will be heavily decorated as if the whole community are preparing for the celebrations. A street party will take place between 11:30 – 3:30pm in the village with brass bands, thanksgiving, street races/games and sing-alongs. Visitors can take part in a range of traditional activities and food making associated with coronation celebration: jam tarts, crown bread loaf, jelly. Celebratory food will be available in outlets across the site – as well as from street hawkers during the street party.
“Another chance to meet Mr Singh – this time around the Elephant and Castle – along with the formidable landlady Doris May Davis. Don’t get caught by Miss Robbins – the bossy do-gooding party organiser who will give you one of her to do lists!”
Visitors can use their UnChained pass for this event.
Please see the Programme overview for more details.
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Programming team (located in Canalside offices).
Thank you.
We would like to introduce Rory Shannon and Donna Cooper, as they start their journey at the Museum.
Rory, who joins us as our Enterprise Manager, says:
“Like most people in the West Midlands, I visited the Museum as a child and have loved it ever since. Getting the opportunity to join the Museum really is a dream job for me.
“For the last 12 years, I have worked for the University of Birmingham, working across the Edgbaston campus within the Food & Beverage team. Previous to this, I worked at both Costa Coffee and Nandos. We have a great team here at the Museum and over the next few months, we hope to introduce new ideas and menus across the site, building on previous successes and signature offers, such as our famous fish and chips.”
Donna, who has joined us as our Team Manager (Historic Characters), says:
“I most recently worked at the Alexandra Theatre managing the Stage Door team, prior to that I worked for Warwick Castle in the Attractions & Shows department.”
We wish you both all the best in the future.
Event overview
Date(s): Sat 1 – Sun 16 April
Concept: Spring has sprung in the Black Country and we want to celebrate the new season with you! With flowers planted and seeds sprouting, the feeling of new beginnings is in the air. Find out what’s growing in the gardens, see the buds as they bloom and discover springtime flavours with some delicious recipes!
With park games, egg and spoon races and the chance to make your own paper flower bouquet – there are plenty of activities to join in with. Don’t forget to look out for our 1950’s Sweet Seller, our friendly village Postie and keep an eye out for Mr Singh and Carmen and Hyacinth. There are also plenty of sweet treats to try, including the Jamaican Spiced Bun and delicious hot chocolate.
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Programming team (located in Canalside offices).
Thank you.
Event overview
Date(s): Fri 24 Mar & Sat 25 Mar
Concept: Exploring Living Industrial History when the Black Country was ‘Red By Night’ because of the factories and machines that were working 24 hours a day. We will opperate some of our industrial machines such as the Anchor Forge and have guest engines positioned around the site.
Staff Tickets: All staff will receive 50% off Red by Night tickets. (You are allocated four tickets for family and friends at 50% off).
If you would like to purchase tickets for this event please visit our Sales and Ticketing team in Canalside. Our team can only accept card payments.
Themes: Industry, engines and machines.
Please read the Red by Night Overview thoroughly to familiarise yourself with the programme and offers available.
Thank you.
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Some of you may have seen a photograph on our social media platforms last night – a photo of a mine safety lamp standing proudly on a heap of coal. This is the start of a social media series of images and videos that will tease the reopening of ‘Into the Thick’, our underground mine experience.
Although we are not confirming a date to the general public yet, we are aiming to have the underground mine experience open within the next month.
Please do share our social media posts to help build excitement, but please don’t share the date of the reopening on social media yet.
More information will be shared over the coming weeks for those who have never experienced ‘Into the Thick’.
We are urgently looking for a working miners lamp!
Please get in touch as long as you are happy for us to borrow, use and light the item to use as a film prop on Tuesday 13 Dec.
If you think that you can help us and have what we need, please pop it into the green box located at the Comms Team desks (located in Canalside office, next to Sales & Ticketing) with your name attached, or please deliver it to your Line Manager by Sunday 11 Dec.
Thank you for all your help!
