The Museum of Bath at Work was among a small number of charities to receive an award from the Bath Building Society in October 2011. The application beat over 30 other entries to be one of a final eight.
The award took the form of a grant for £1000 to fund a Snowhill community exhibition, and was presented by Mayor and Friends’ Committee member Councillor Bryan Chalker at a small reception in the Mayor’s Parlour. Chair of the Trustees Trevor Turpin accepted the award on behalf of the Museum, accompanied by Trustee Edward Cross and Friends at Work Marion Dodd and Sally Lewis. Chairman Trevor dedicated the award to all the Friends at Work at the Museum in thanks for their continuing dedication.
On Saturday 16th April 2011 the Museum was closed for a family event to celebrate the life of the founder of the Museum of Bath at Work, Russell Frears.
Over 100 relatives and close colleagues were invited to celebrate the unique contribution that Russell Frears made to the understanding of Bath’s history by founding the Museum and supervising its design, content and administration when the Museum opened in 1978.
From Easter Sunday 2012, children will be allowed free entry to the Museum. They must be accompanied by an adult and a maximum of two children per adult will be admitted. ‘Child’ is defined as being between five years and sixteen years of age.
Museum dancers at work in Olympic ceremonies
Dancers who performed for the Museum of Bath at Work last year are joining the 1000s of other volunteers helping make the Olympic Games ceremonies something to remember. The dance students, who have now completed their second year at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich, London, performed at Bath’s museum of working heritage as part of the national Museums at Night event in May. The performance was inspired by the industrial machinery collection, using a sound recording of it working as background and drew national publicity. Rosa Firbank performed in the opening ceremony on July 27 and Katie Saunders, Lily Turner and Julian Lewis, from Bath who led last year’s performance are appearing in the closing ceremony on August 12. He said: ‘To be a part of the Olympic ceremonies has been a one-off opportunity. As dancers we have found it insightful to be part of such a large scale rehearsal process and understand how the event has been coordinated with so many performers. We have all been involved in different sections so have worked with a variety of people, not all dancers. The opportunity to be in the stadium on that day is something I will always remember.’ Image: Julian Lewis
‘Christmas at War’ Event, 17th December 2011
Organised by Friend at Work Sally Lewis and opened by the Mayor of Bath, Bryan Chalker, the Christmas Fair helped to raise awareness and encourage community involvement in commemorations planned for 2012, which marks the 70th Anniversary of the Bath Blitz.
Museum Friends at Work were supported by 1940s enthusiasts the ‘Blitz Buddies’, who gave dance demonstrations, and local craftspeople also dressed for the occasion! The ‘Christmas at War’ exhibition displayed wartime printed material and artefacts.
