Members’Members’ Events Events ListList & and Volunteer Programme Volunteer Programme 2013/142015 Issue 2 Tel: 01624 824137 Website: www.friendsofmnh.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/friendsofmnh E-mail: [email protected] Dear Friend, Spring is arriving! This means the remainder of the MNH sites will soon be open. Castle Rushen and Rushen Abbey have been open at weekends since early February, but Saturday 28th March will see the other sites open - with the exception of the Nautical Museum which will open a little later Members’in the Season. More information Even tons that Lis in Edmundt Southworth’s letter which follows. As usual we have a variety of new events forand this season. I have tried to include something for everyone, and some at weekends, for those of you working. Some events are limited on places so if you don’tVo wantlun to bet disappointedeer Pr pleaseogramme do book early. You will see that in conjunction with the Quilliam Group we are organising a fundraising auction which will take place in July (see details in the events/volunteers list). We hope to be showcasing Manx talent. We 2013/14would be delighted to hear from you if you have a particular craft/art that you would be happy to provide. Also, FMNH will once again be taking Issuepart in the Flower 2 Festival between Sunday 5th & Saturday 11th July. This time FMNH volunteers will be creating their magic at the Nautical Museum. If you don’t currently volunteer, but would like to do so, do please contact me. We have an opportunities form further on in the booklet which gives an idea of the different ways of being involved. Thank you to all of you who have contributed your time and talents. Also, do you have a skill that we don’t know about and which you would like to share with other members? We would love to hear from you. Tel: 01624 824137 Don’t forget to use your FMNH cards, and enjoy your Island and beyond! Thank you for your continuedWe support.bsite: www.friendsofmnh.org Best wishes Facebook: www.facebook.com/friendsofmnh E-mail: [email protected] Nicola A Message from the MNH Director Dear Friend One of the certainties about the Isle of Man is that when spring is here – it is well and truly here! It’s not just the crocuses and snowdrops in the verges and the lambs in the fields; we also see the signs of a new visitor season approaching such as the Steam Trains running again and the Fastcraft Manannan re-starting its Liverpool run. Actually we started our new season at February half-term by opening Castle Rushen and Rushen Abbey at weekends. This is still somewhat of an experiment but we have been pleasantly surprised by the numbers taking advantage of the sites. Rushen Abbey has continued to appeal to local families in particular. One of the reasons these specific sites were opened was to compensate somewhat for sites that we couldn’t open due to conservation or maintenance work. In an ideal world we would let people see close up the work that we do on our historic properties. It’s often fascinating and highly technical work done by skilled teams. Two amazing projects undertaken during the winter have been the repainting and repair of the Laxey Wheel and much-needed repairs to the leaking roof at the Grove. We also took advantage of generous support from the Friends to conserve and restore the moulded porch at the Grove which has looked dreadful for many years. Both of these projects were on a large scale and we had no alternative but to close the sites while contractors were working. Indeed we think the scaffolding alone at the Laxey Wheel was the largest structure of its type ever built in the island. You’ll be able to see the difference at the Laxey Wheel – because of the new paint – but the impact will be more subtle at the Grove as we’ll have to let the interior dry out for a while before we can redecorate and upgrade any displays. Talking of drying out! Possibly the most dramatic event of the year so far has been the move of the Peggy to new premises. This move has been years in the planning and it finally happened very quickly in a brief gap in the January gales. There are some great pictures and videos on our website and Facebook pages. At the moment she’s in an insulated box while we construct a workshop round her in her temporary home. Again I’m grateful for the support of the Friends who have committed £50,000 towards her immediate conservation. She’s going to spend some considerable time being dried out in very controlled circumstances during which we will be measuring, studying and examining her in a way we simply could not when she was cooped up in her cellar. Only then will we be able to plan her repair and restoration in detail. We’ll also continue to look at the Quayle story and ways to tell it again in Castletown. The Museum will re-open later in May with a new temporary gallery explaining the story so far. Many people have asked me how much all this is going to cost and how they can help. That’s a good question and at the moment the answer is still emerging as we continue to look in depth at the boat, the archives and the museum buildings to see what our options are. What’s clear is that the combination of historic assets relating to George Quayle is internationally significant and we have a duty to deliver the best outcome we can in the years to come. If anyone does want to make a financial contribution now they would be most welcome but we will be giving Friends, and others, opportunities to support us in due course as we develop a formal fundraising strategy for Peggy and other projects this year. Something else you might be able to help with is a new exhibition we want to host in collaboration with the Isle of Man Arts Council and Christies. Called Secret Treasures: 20th Century British and Irish Art on the Isle of Man we aim to open at the Manx Museum on 17th October to 28th November 2015. The aim is to bring together for the first time the finest collections of Modern British and Irish Art on the Isle of Man held in private collections to display at the Manx Museum. We are extremely fortunate to have secured the knowledge and skills of Andre Zlattinger – Head of the Modern British Department at Christies London – who will curate the show. Do you have a piece or collection that you would be willing to lend (anonymously if you like) for exhibition at the Manx Museum? Do let Nicola know if you’d like to be involved. And finally, I want to remind you that the outstanding exhibition telling the story of the Island during World War 1, This Terrible Ordeal, closes on 11th April. It has been a real privilege to tell these stories and I’d like you to make sure you take every opportunity to tell people not to miss the show. Also look out for History in Heels, a new way of looking at Island stories around seven of our sites this year. Look for the Pink! With best wishes, Edmund Southworth Director MEMBERS EVENTS PROGRAMME 2015 APRIL SATURDAY 18TH - HAPPY HOLIDAYS By good fortune the Island’s heyday was captured by film makers. Come and enjoy an afternoon watching three wonderfully nostalgic films dating from 1939. Time: 2.30pm Venue: House of Manannan Max 60 Free MAY THURSDAY 7TH - HISTORY IN HEELS: DOT MEETS MADAM PRESIDENT Our very own Dot Tilbury chats with The President of Tynwald the Hon Clare Christian. Definitely more Parkinson than Paxman this will be a fun evening, with dinner, the odd song and suffragettes to boot. A great Manx alternative to UK election night! Time: 7pm Venue: Sound Café Max 76 Welcome drink, 2 course dinner and coffee £20 pp TUESDAY 12TH - THE CHURCHES OF OLD RAMSEY Frank Cowin will take us on a Historical and Architectural tour of the Churches of Old Ramsey. Including differing denominations comparing their layouts. Time: 2.30pm Meet at St Paul’s Church Ramsey Max 25 Free MONDAY 18TH - WISH YOU WERE HERE Join Katie King (MNH curator) for a film afternoon, with a compilation of tourism films from the MNH archive to celebrate the re-launch of the Exploratorium gallery which for 2015 will take a ‘Seaside Holiday’ theme. Time: 2.30pm Venue: Manx Museum Lecture Theatre Max 180 Free MEMBERS EVENTS PROGRAMME 2015 JUNE WEDNESDAY 17TH - THE PEGGY: A visit to the new conservation facility at Cooil Smithy, with Chris Weeks (MNH Conservator), to see The Peggy and hear about the plans for her. Please note the facility is cold and there is no seating. Please wear appropriate footwear, warm clothing and bring a sitting stool if you tire easily. Time: 11.00am & 2pm Venue: Joining instructions on booking a place Max 20 Free SATURDAY 27TH & SUNDAY 28TH - THE BAKING TECHNIQUES OF OUR ANCESTORS... AN AFTERNOON AT NOA BAKEHOUSE: During this workshop we will be given a small potted history of bread making techniques of our ancestors, prior to manufactured yeast, and an overview of the health benefits and processes used at Noa. During this workshop you will have the opportunity to work and shape a Sourdough loaf, bringing a resting basket and a loaf home to bake the next morning; make a Noa sconnag, Noa’s modern twist on a bonnag; how to mix, shape and bake sourdough bagels.