2016-2017 In this issue: Friends of The ·HLF Development ·Website update ·Artwork Conservation ·Foster Medal Collection ·Rothbury Trenches ·Visitors, Volunteers and Activities ·General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe ·Upcoming Lectures Museum HLF Development Update His Grace the Duke of Upstairs, Downstairs Northumberland formally A special virtual tour of the reopened the museum on museum's three floors has 24th of June 2016, the increased the accessibility of the Anniversary of the Battle of displays for everyone. Wilhelmstahl (1762), at a Reception to celebrate Filmed by InfoAktiv, the tour completion of the new allows visitors who are unable to displays on the two upper manage the stairs to visit the floors and to thank our upper floors at the touch of a funders and everyone who screen. Touching one of the virtual worked on the project. tour's 15 'hot spots‘ brings up a rotating image of the selected The first phase of the object together with information redevelopment was a special about it. centenary exhibition commemorating the role of “An excellent museum, my the Northumberland Fusiliers wife was fascinated” Visitor in the First World War. It was survey comment, June 2017 presented on the ground floor for three seasons from 2014. “The Fusiliers museum is Aden remembered excellent and makes you 2017 marks the 50th proud” eldorado2015, Anniversary of the Aden Tripadvisor, summer 2015 Mutiny. “Incident on Temple Cliffs” by The final phase is now Terence Cuneo depicts the complete, retelling the actions of Fusilier John Duffy Regiment’s 350 year history who was awarded the with themes representing the Distinguished Conduct Medal for everyday life of a soldier over rescuing the pilot of a helicopter three floors of new displays. shot down in Aden, 1967. We wish to thank the Heritage Thanks to grants from the Army Lottery Fund, local trusts and Website update Museums Ogilby Trust and the museum's friends and Please visit our updated Samares Investments, this and benefactors. We're delighted website from September 2017 all the paintings in the new www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk with the success of the displays have undergone displays, and feed-back from conservation by conservator visitors has been excellent. Susan Veitch. “Pupils enjoyed the trench dug-out. They were interested to see what life was like for a WW1 soldier. They really learnt a lot…from the quiz trail.” Byker Primary School Teacher, summer 2016 Teaching Resources Sam Levy, the Activities Officer, and volunteers have developed an extensive education programme. The programme supports the planning and delivery of educational resources to schools and other groups providing a legacy to engage children long after the Heritage Lottery funded project ends. A ‘Timeline Treasure Trove’ box is available for hire by schools and community groups. “We loved it! Ruby dressed up as a nurse and I was a soldier.” Evan, Ruby, Mam and Dad, Visitors book, summer 2016 Activity Leaders The Museum’s Activity Officer is working closely with volunteers to develop resources for museum trails and the handling Interactive elements such as lift the collection. flap displays, dressing up in Fusilier uniforms and headwear, new quiz Volunteer Activity Leaders Dave, trails, the colouring and drawing Chris and Steve have been table and handling collection fascinating visitors of all ages with sessions are all popular with families. their enthusiasm and knowledge about the objects they are presenting. Visitors really enjoy the opportunity to handle objects and discuss them with the team. Feedback has been really positive and reflects the dedication of the volunteers. We are extremely grateful to them, and other members of the team who have helped at outside events. Foster Collection Visitors Patricia Brown accompanied The museum was pleased by her husband and to welcome 84, 312 visitors daughter, came to see the in the 2016 season. medals which had been collected by her late father, Colonel Kingsley Foster, and Patrica Brown and the Foster her Grandfather, Lieutenant Collection Colonel Osbern Foster. Rothbury Trenches Kingsley Foster and his father, Administrative Assistant Clare both Fifth Fusiliers, were Brittain answered the call of the enthusiastic and Woodhorn Museum and knowledgeable medal Northumberland Archives by collectors. The Foster Medal researching and supplying Collection was presented to images from our collection of the museum in 1952 by Northumberland Fusiliers in Patricia’s Grandfather, practice trenches at Rothbury in Colonel Osbern Foster as a Volunteers and staff clean the Northumberland. memorial to his son. Kingsley Foster medals, above and below Foster was killed in action Woodhorn’s project was to bring while commanding 1st to life the forgotten trenches Battalion Royal which had been dug and used by Northumberland Fusiliers, at soldiers of the 18th Battalion the Battle of the Imjin, Korea, Northumberland Fusiliers 25th April 1951. training at Rothbury during the First World War. A project to clean the medals involved staff and volunteers Woodhorn this year organised under the supervision of some summer week-end events conservator Karen Barker of at the site of the trenches the Conservation Area outside Rothbury, and invited us Network, which is funded by to take part. An enthusiastic Arts Council England. The museum team took a handling medals were then re- collection to the trenches, and displayed in a new purpose- visitors very much enjoyed built case. handling the objects and discussing them with the Volunteers Dave and Tim Clare Brittain and Volunteers at volunteers, who did a first rate have produced a Foster The Rothbury Trenches, July 2017 job. Collection guide book for visitors’ use. The guide Our researcher’s grandfather, contains colour photographs Corporal William Brabban, was of the medals for one of those 18th Battalion identification and a key to soldiers, so there was a special their recipients. They are now connection for Bill when he working towards the second visited the site. Woodhorn part of the guide which will Museum certainly achieved their inform visitors about what 18th Battalion, Rothbury objective – a really enjoyable, the medals were awarded for. Trenches, 1917 enlightening and moving event. Percy became Sheaffe’s lifelong friend and benefactor; in 1778 he Lectures purchased Sheaffe’s first commission into the 5th Regiment Henry Percy: of Foot as an Ensign aged 15. He ‘Waterloo transferred from the Regiment Messenger’ when it sailed for Canada in 1787 A talk at 7.30pm on Friday 22nd but continued his successful September 2017 in the Guest Hall, military career, eventually Alnwick Castle, by Sir William commanding the 49th Regiment of Mahon, author of 'Waterloo Foot, and later becoming Messenger', his book about the Governor of Fort St George, remarkable life of Henry Percy who Ontario. He fought as a Loyalist brought the news of victory from General in the British Army during Waterloo to London. For more information see the Alnwick Castle the ‘War of 1812’ against the website. Poverty to United States. A Baronet and a General, he For every ticket purchased Prominence retired to Edinburgh with his through the museum, Alnwick Our search for an 18th Century family. He died in 1851 aged 88 Castle will donate 20% of the image to feature on our new and was buried alongside his ticket value to the museum. So website led us to the three daughters, none of whom when you buy your ticket please Collection of the Duke of survived him. say you heard about the event Northumberland and a fine oil from the Fusiliers Museum! painting of General Sir Roger Thanks Coming in May Hale Sheaffe. Sheaffe had a remarkable military career, Our thanks to Julian Farrance of 2018 beginning with a chance the National Army Museum, who In May 2018 Kate Adie will be encounter in Boston, advised us on the Caplock Musket giving a talk in the Castle's Guest dated 1842 which is displayed on Massachusetts and ending in Hall. Edinburgh, Scotland. the Second Floor of the museum. Kate Adie was the BBC's chief news Roger Sheaffe, the eighth child Legacies correspondent for fourteen years, of William Sheaffe, was born in reporting from war zones around the world. She presents From Our Boston in 1763. When his We are most grateful for legacies father died leaving the family Own Correspondent on Radio 4, and from the late Alan Hill, Rosemary is the author of several best-selling penniless, his mother opened a St John and Sam Phillips. books, including 'Fighting on the boarding house to sustain the Home Front: the legacy of women in family. In 1775 when the 5th Support World War One', published in 2014. Regiment of Foot, under the If you would like further command of Colonel Hugh, Since 2008 your donations have information, please contact the nd Earl Percy, later the 2 Duke of provided match funding for the museum. Northumberland, were redevelopment project. Future The Fusiliers Museum of stationed in Boston, the future donations will help to sustain the Northumberland Duke of Northumberland legacy of the redevelopment Abbot’s Tower stayed in the Sheaffe’s project such as educational Alnwick Castle boarding house. So impressed activities for visiting families and Alnwick was Percy by the qualities and NE66 1NG leadership potential of the 12 school groups. If you would like year old Sheaffe that he sent to help the museum, please visit our website. Tel: 01665 602152 him to a military academy in Email: [email protected] London. Registered Charity No. 273064 www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk.