October 2013
Full steam ahead
I SS U E T H R E E
In early August, Museum staff allowed themselves a brief
celebration to mark the completion of the building work for the new
Babcock Galleries. The new glass link provides a fantastic entrance
to HMS –Hear My Story and the converted gallery spaces once again
reveal the magnificent structure of this Georgian storehouse.
However, with the opening in spring 2014 fast approaching, it is
now full steam ahead to create the final exhibitions. Whilst a new
contractor is on-site putting in the display structures, the
Museum’s team are racing against time to finalise the contents and
prepare the collections for exhibition. Meanwhile the team are
wrestling with many practical issues, what is the best way to get a
4.5 metre long torpedo into the building and then secure it under a
glass floor? What is the safest way to suspend a volley of missiles
from the ceiling? Who can conserve material as different as the
tattered remains of an ensign flown on an Atlantic convoy, a
leather flying helmet and delicate works of art? Finally, plans
have been finalised for our exciting special exhibition - ‘Racing
to War: the Royal Navy and 1914’ – and negotiations are underway to
bring together artefacts from other national museums and private
collections for the first time. Details of progress and upcoming
events can be found at www.nmrn.org.uk/hms ●
Tattoos and school children – the Skin Deep project ‘No’, you
aren’t imagining it and don’t worry we aren’t breaking any health
and safety rules! Skin Deep is actually an art project exploring
the origins of tattoos and the Royal Navy’s role in introducing
them to Western society.Working with 90 Paulsgrove pupils from
Medina Primary, Victory Primary and St. Pauls RC Primary schools,
the artist, Debbie Dodsworth, brought the budding young artists to
the Museum to explore the collections in search of inspiration.
They also learnt about the symbolism behind tattoos - for example,
a swallow means you will always find your loved one – and how
tattoos were a reminder of their travels, a bit like souvenirs
today, which when seen back home were often copied. Having soaked
up all these ideas, each pupil got to work creating their own
designs representing things that are important to them. These
stunning designs were then used not to decorate arms, legs and
backs but keepsake boxes and sea chests for their schools to be
unveiled at the Sea Life Roadshow in Paulsgrove Community Centre in
October. ●
As part of our ‘Welcome Home’ project naval families from HMS
Dragon have got together with artist Caroline O’Brien to create a
banner to welcome back their loved ones currently on deployment. It
took two days to create and unfortunately we can’t show you a full
photograph as we are sworn to secrecy until the ship’s company has
seen it! Hopefully, by the time of the next issue we’ll be able to
reveal all. If not, you’ll be able to see the banner when it takes
pride of place in the ‘Family Life’ section of the new galleries.
●
Getting messy with HMS Dragon
Keep upto date or get involved!T: 02392 727567 | E:
[email protected] | W: nmrn.org.uk/hms
The Royal Naval Museum, a registered charity 1126283 is a
component part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
Visit us: National Museum of the Royal Navy & HMS Victory,
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, PO1 3NH.
Sneaky peak of the Dragon families banner
Mai and Chloe Baldwin with their paintbrushes at the ready! St.
Pauls RC School Pupils with their sketches
North view of the gallery – home of the new special exhibition
space Bofors Gun in the centre of the gallery
Matthew Sheldon, Project Director said, It is great to be
standing in the exhibition galleries as they take shape around us.
The exhibitions are not a concept anymore; they are fast becoming a
reality – a reality which is steaming towards us at a rate of
knots!
HMS Events October 2013 – January 2014 Make and Mend Crafts 18th
November, 1.30pm – 4.30pm at the National Museum of the Royal
Navy.Following on from the naval tradition of ‘Make and Mend, join
us for a FREE embroidery session.
Naval Tea Club Tuesday 3rd December, 2pm – 4pm Join us for tea,
chat and reminiscence with a different theme, artefacts and
archives each time. No knowledge of naval history is needed, just
curiosity, and a willingness to meet others and take part in lively
conversation.
Cabin Club Friday 6th December 11am – 12pm For under 5’s, join
us for an hour of soft play, water play and crafts. Refreshments
will be available. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
All events are free and booking is required. Please contact
02392 727595 or email [email protected] for details.Contact
02392 727595 or email [email protected]
5 generations, 1000 stories, 1 Royal Navy
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
MYSTERY OBJECT! Which ship is this the unofficial badge from?
This object was chosen by two of our volunteers David Eaton and
Roger Keysor. Send your answers to [email protected] and the
winner’s name will be published with the answer in the next
issue.Last edition’s mystery object was solved by Kevin Patience
who correctly identified it as a replica of Albert RN, a dummy
originally made in Marlag Prisoner of War Camp by John Worsley and
Tony Bently-Buckle in 1944. Well done Kevin.
National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic
Dockyard
1 HMS Victory2,3,4 National Museum of the Royal Navy5 Entrance
and tickets
5
1
3
4
2
Colin Ewart with his photography project
5 generations, 1000 stories, 1 Royal Navy
PROJEC T TIMELINE
2011 (November) 2014 (August)
November 2011 HLF approves £1.4m grant
October 2012 Start building
May 2012 ‘Story Exchange’ Film-making project
November 2012 £1m sponsorship agreed with Babcock
International
March 2013 Large artefacts installed
September 2013 The exhibition is built
Spring 2014 Opening of ‘HMS: Hear My Story’
June 2013 July 2013 Completion of building work
February 2014 Build complete, the Museum starts testing
August 2014 Anniversary of WWI
Each newsletter we will be asking one of our Focus Groups to
write about their experiences in helping us to create HMS. This
edition is by Peter Main from our Community Panel.
“I am an ex-Dockyard employee and have been retired for 21
years, so coming back as a volunteer has been an interesting
experience. I have had the privilege to be involved in
approximately 6 out of 8 community focus groups held at the museum
to help with the exhibition preparations for HMS - Hear My Story.
It’s great to know that my opinion both as a volunteer and
Community Panel member helps the project team to finalise their
plans.
It has been a lot of fun sharing ideas and a very interesting
experience, however, my input doesn’t stop there. I have also
restored items that will feature in the exhibition, like the
magnificent HMS Eagle ship model and the Duke of York name board.
What an honour it will be to see my hard work out on display
amongst the many other fantastic artefacts. In the meantime, I’m
busy cleaning and restoring a wide and varied range of items such
as the sledge used to recover Scott and his team from the South
Pole, four flint lock rifles and a lot of ship’s bells!” ●Peter
Main
Racing to War will be the first exhibition in the new special
exhibition gallery as part of a series of exhibitions telling the
story of the Royal Navy’s vital part in the First World War.
Running from June 2014 until January 2015, it will recount the
Royal Navy’s story during the last years of peace and the opening
months of the war.
Racing to War is about the service on which Britain pinned its
hopes for survival, about victory, and the sea that was its
battleground. It will take you through the
century’s early years, into the naval arms race with Germany and
the building of the Grand Fleet. The first six months of the War
included disasters, the loss of 3 ships and 1400 men to a single
U-boat, defeats like the Battle of Coronel as well as triumphs such
as the Battle of the Falklands. There were months in which the Navy
fought across the globe, far away from the North Sea and the clash
of the mighty Dreadnought battleships that was to come.
It will examine the dramatic opening of the Navy’s war – and how
far the assumptions about the Navy’s role and its strength matched
the reality. The first 6 months of the War included disasters - the
loss of 3 ships and 1400 men to a single U-boat - defeats - like
the Battle of Coronel - as well as triumphs such as the Battle of
the Falklands. They were months in which the Navy fought across the
globe, far away from the North Sea and the clash of the mighty
dreadnought battleships that was to come. ●
Memory Month winner of the most poignant memory by Frederick
“Ben” Rodgers In April 1964, at a few minutes after 0800hrs… I
sensed the deck angle change downward... we appeared to be in a
steep dive! In a matter of seconds we were at 200 feet. Events now
seemed to evolve in slow motion... every eye in the control room
focused on the rapidly descending depth gauge readings. Passing 400
feet... Blowing the tanks had not even slowed us down. As we passed
through 600
feet the 1st lieutenant threw his shirt over the depth gauge. It
effectively broke our trance like concentration. The feeling of
being trapped in a steel tube as it plunges toward its crush depth
is terrifying. Powerless to do anything, I stood fearfully awaiting
the end. As we continued our descent a strange feeling of calm did
indeed over take me. I relaxed realizing I was no longer in control
of events unfolding around me.” Suddenly a voice pierced my silent
reverie. “Bubble rising sir” I wasn’t at first sure I’d heard
correctly. However, shifting my weight to allow for a sudden upward
sweep of the deck, the boat was now racing toward the surface at
about the same speed we had dived moments before. The entire
experience had only taken minutes. Yet for those of us in the
control room minutes had seemed like hours. ●Read “Ben” Rodgers
full memory at www.nmrn.org.uk/hms and for more stories about Ben’s
life in submarines visit www.irishroversbooks.com
Nestled amongst a leafy glade with sunshine pouring through the
trees, such was the atmosphere during the Staunton Festival in
July. Teens to toddlers, veterans, families and friends were all
encouraged to try the free activities on offer which included
‘Guess the Mystery Object’, ‘Identify the Mystery Smell’ and even
‘Create Your Own Flying Fish’! In complete contrast, during the
August Bank Holiday, I found myself surrounded by dancing and
energetic music, in the vibrant atmosphere of the Victorious
Festival at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. On this occasion, Simon,
the ship’s cat, and a water-play boat proved to be extremely
popular attractions on our HMS stand in the Families Arena.
I’m just wondering what they will ask me to do next?Fran Wright,
Learning and Outreach Volunteer
facebook.com/NMRNPortsmouth @nmrnp
Exhibition and Learning Volunteer It’s been a very interesting
18 months for me as an HMS volunteer after years of retirement
idleness. Just tripping around generally wasting time as we oldies
do. Not anymore! It all started with the wondrous CALM collection
management database. Nothing calm about it at all! Hundreds (if not
thousands) of photographs later I am only (maybe) just beginning to
get sight of the end of project No. 1. And then the Downes Diary
project. That was all about research and another rapid learning
curve. With much help from the library team, it was great fun.
Did I mention the learning days? Now that has been really
varied! From getting dressed in a dinner jacket and dickie bow for
a film premier, to taking children around the museum and making tea
for hundreds at Armed Forces Day, it’s been great. Victorious
Festival anyone? I’m getting to do lots of things and there is
never a dull day as an HMS volunteer. Many thanks to Adele and
Deborah for their support. ●
Follow us to share your memories of the Royal Navy.
Racing to war: the Royal Navy and 1914
From left to right: Louise Brown and Fran Wright at the Staunton
Festival
Peter restoring an honours board Peter on a Behind the Scenes
tour of the Museum attic with other Community Panel members
HMS for our community
Volunteer’s Voice
Frederick “Ben” Rodgers today
Summer sun It was a busy Summer as HMS took to the road to
attend local events and saw over 7000 people.
Pre-Dreadnoughts in line ahead …
Sinking to crush depth
Colin Ewart, Exhibition and Learning Vounteer
