The Gun Which Started It All Art Exhibition
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National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ISSUE TWO 2 1 June 2013 The Southsea Yarnscape 3 New Yarnscape 4 5 generations, 1000 stories, 1 Royal Navy exhibition is open! The Southsea Seaside Yarnscape is now on display for all to see free of charge in the Cabin Area in the Victory Gallery at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. The exhibition was opened to a crowd of 120 people by Chief Petty Officer Ricky 5 Nelson who also took part in the project. Patterns from the Yarnscape along with 1940’s clothes patterns can be downloaded from the resources section 1 HMS Victory on the HMS website. 2,3,4 National Museum of the Royal Navy ● Visitors admiring the Yarnscape on display www.nmrn.org.uk/hms 5 Entrance and tickets Trosnant Junior School pupils with their blueys and Walter’s love letters. MYSTERY OBJECT! Visit us: National Museum of the Royal Navy Craning the Lance Gun into position Close up of the fire control at the breech When I dream… end of the Lance gun Who is this famous fella? & HMS Victory, Portsmouth Historic I dream of home… Send your answer’s to [email protected] Dockyard, Portsmouth, PO1 3NH. Leigh Park children have used naval love and the winner’s name will be published with the answer in letters to inspire their own amazing the next issue. The gun which started it all art exhibition. Year 3 and 4 pupils from Last edition’s mystery object was Admiral Sir Stuart Bonham- Sharps Copse Primary and Trosnant Carter’s cap – given to him after he lost everything during the Matthew Sheldon, On 27 March, the first artefact for the new exhibition, sinking of HMS Edinburgh, torpedoed in 1942 in the Barents Juniors worked with artist Debbie Sea. The gold laurel leaves on the peak were hand painted by Project Director said, HMS – Hear My Story, the ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer Dodsworth to discover how sailors kept his men as there were no proper admiral’s hats available at sea. It was very exciting HMS Lance which fired the very first shot of the war at sea in touch with their loved ones through ‘blueys’ - a sheet of blue paper folded to to be installing the in WW1, was lifted into place. When the War started on 4th Lance Gun, a truly make an envelope and sent home. August 1914, HMS Lance and her sister ship Landrail were HMS Events July – December 2013 iconic object. This will On visits to the Museum, the students performing a ‘sweep’ of the North Sea. The next day the two Monday 23rd September, Thursday 31st October, be the first thing that explored embroidered postcards and 21st October, 18th November, 11am – 3pm, Sea Life Community our visitors see as they destroyers encountered the German minelayer Konigin Louise the beautifully illustrated love letters 1.30pm – 4.30pm, Make and Mend Roadshow, at Paulsgrove enter our new ‘HMS’ as she was setting mines off the Dutch coast. Lance fired a sent by Chief Stoker Walter Grainger. Walter wrote over 150 love letters to his Crafts at the National Museum of Community Centre. exhibition and is a shell, eventually sinking her, and making the Konigin Louise the Royal Navy. Join us as we take the Museum on the road! fiancée Edith whilst he spent 3½ years powerful way to start Following on from the naval tradition of ‘Make We’ll be bringing a whole range of family the first naval casualty of WW1. This semi-automatic quick serving on the China station. activities, artefacts and fun. telling the story of the and Mend, join us for FREE knitting, crochet firing gun - which weighs 3.6 tonnes, measures 5 metres and and embroidery craft sessions. Free, drop-in event. Royal Navy’s last 100 The children created their own ‘blueys’ Free, drop-in event. Thursday 31st October, 6pm – years. could fire over 5 miles - has been loaned by the Imperial War with illustrated messages. These were Saturday 12th October, 1pm 7.30pm, HMS: Twilight Tour of the Museum to be a key object in the new exhibition. then turned into blankets which became -4pm, HMS Modeltastic Day! at the Photography Collection, at the part of a poignant bunk installation, National Museum of the Royal Navy. National Museum of the Royal Navy. As the concrete and mud of the early stages of the building encouraging visitors not only to enjoy Our free autumn event has gone mad! Get a Be one of the first to see some of the work become a memory, the Project Team are now in the the letters written by the children, but sneak preview of some of our models for our historical photographs that will be included in new exhibition. Free, drop-in event. the new HMS exhibition. Free event, booking final stages of creating the exhibition space. to reflect on the importance of keeping in touch with family and friends. The is essential as spaces are limited. Details of this progress and upcoming events can be found at exhibition was displayed in St Francis For events booking and more information contact 02392 727595 or ● email [email protected] www.nmrn.org.uk/hms Church, Leigh Park. ● Keep upto date or get involved! T: 02392 727567 | E: [email protected] | W: nmrn.org.uk/hms Portsmouth Historic Dockyard The Royal Naval Museum, a registered charity 1126283 is a component part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. PROJECT TIMELINE November 2011 October 2012 March 2013 September 2013 Spring 2014 HLF approves £1.4m grant Start building Large artefacts installed The exhibition is built Opening of ‘HMS: Hear My Story’ May 2012 November 2012 June 2013 July 2013 February 2014 August 2014 2011 (November) ‘Story Exchange’ Film-making project £1m sponsorship agreed Completion of building work Build complete, Anniversary of WWI 2014 (August) with Babcock International the Museum starts testing 5 generations, 1000 stories, 1 Royal Navy HMS Dragon - film stars in the making Lynda Howe from Brune Park HMS for our community Community College, is part of our HMS School Focus Group, she recently brought her pupils to see the new galleries being built. HMS Dragon A unique film is being made by the crew and families of HMS Dragon. The aim of the film is to show the realities of how families and sailors feel when they have been sent on a deployment. Crew of HMS Dragon Images kindly supplied by the ship’s Leading Photographer Dave Jenkins The final cut of the film will be shown takes a professional in the new exhibition HMS – Hear and dedicated ship’s Veterans’ Focus Group meeting at our Museum Ray Metcalfe serving in the Falklands My Story. Executive Warrant Officer, company to go to sea, but they must The families were contacted and Conflict 1982 Dai Charles from HMS Dragon said have the family support at home so as a mixture of volunteers are to be Each newsletter we will be asking up with the local community and school “The ship’s company of HMS Dragon to keep their minds focused on the job interviewed. Dads with sons or one of our Focus Groups to write groups involved in this project so it’s an was asked by Second Sea Lord if the at hand.” daughters at sea, husbands with wives Lynda Howe ship would be willing to participate in a Alongside the film, a special at sea and traditional RN wives with about their experiences in helping all-round team participation. So far we project that showed how families coped ‘Welcome Home Banner’ art project husbands at sea; all who have had in the veterans’ group have been looking This is a unique opportunity for a group us to create HMS. This edition is by with separation while we were deployed. will be undertaken by the families. nothing but praise for the sensitivity at types of font, colours for background, Ray Metcalfe from our Veterans’ of local young people to learn about the I made contact with Deborah Hodson They are creating their own group shown to them by the staff at the handling various artefacts, considering Focus Group. skills required to plan and construct a new the Learning Manager at National art work to welcome home their Museum. the type of “hands-on” exhibits to be museum. We know that they will be inspired Museum and we met up. After 20 loved ones from the Round Tower in ”To have been asked to be involved available to the visitors, and how the by the work and commitment of the minutes I was convinced the idea would Portsmouth. The final group banner Executive Warrant Officer and have an input in such a historically bunk space exhibit can come alive professionals involved. As our students track not only be achievable, but an example will be put on display alongside the Dai Charles ground breaking project is both through special audio effects. the progress of this project over the next 12 to the civilian population that it not only film in the HMS exhibition. ● extremely exciting and a privilege. It’s We still have much to do and on months we believe that the experience will been fascinating to meet up with fellow completion this new exhibition is have a lasting impact as they consider their naval veterans of all ages and to hear going to be a fabulous addition to own future careers. their stories and comments on how the Museum.” ● Sparks across the sea things were when they were serving.