25th August 2018
#beeinthecity #manchester
Museum of Science and Industry, Castlefield, Manchester
Captured in his own little Garden at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, Industrious
Busy little bee sits in his own little world
Among flowers and scents and colour
working over the flower beds
where the people wait for the train
industrious little fellow he is
IWM North via Salford, 26th March 2018
We’re losing an old friend in a few days time.
A Stalwart of the Russian Army in World War II – The T-34 was a powerful tank and had a Six man crew
The Russian T-34 Tank , having spent 13 years in Greater Manchester, notedly around the Cold war area of the Main exhibition space, will be on its way back to its owner before heading off to pastures new
The boys and girls from exhibitions have already started to get it going, in preparation for the move.
It’ll still be around for a short while, whilst the team work out the logistics of moving The T-34 and replacing it with the new exhibit.
A New Tank, the Mathilda , will be taking its place.
Won’t be forgetting this one though – as i wrote a verse or two about it – you can read that here
#UPDATE – 2nd April 2018.
The T-34 has now left the building, and the boys and girls from operations have updated the parking space in the MES in prep for the new tanks arrival – more when i have it.
#CFFC #LetterM #Photography
Come up with up with photographs with two Ms in the title
OK Cee, I’ll do me best!
To start with here’s a couple of Museums photographed in the area where i live….
Most of these were taken #Midsummer – so theres another word with more than 1 M
Rochdale Pioneers Museum (c) Brian F Kirkham 2017
Oldham Museum & Art Gallery (c) Brian F Kirkham 2017
The Fusiliers Museum in Bury holds not only the Regimental Collection but is home to the Cenotaph for the town, and in regards to the regiment the County – in Memoriam
Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, Bury (c) Brian F Kirkham 2017
Manchester Museum (c) Brian F Kirkham 2007
Manchester Museum is located by the Victoria University of Manchester on Oxford road, and is known primarily for its Archeological and Historical Artifacts. In fact, there’s a special exhibit that greets you at the entrance – his name is Rex.
Rex at Manchester Museum – Saying Hello! (p) Brian F Kirkham 2007
As part of the artifacts, you will come across the Egyptology exhibits – The Victoria Museum is known for its Mummies
One of these artefacts actually came down the road from Salford and is still known as the Salford Mummy to this day, so its nice to pay her a visit!
Salford Museum is the Home of Lark Hill Place, a Victorian Street that shows how people lived during that time – there’s the old cobbles and washing lines, and you’ll hear the sounds of the Grocers, the Blacksmith and the chemists
Salford Museum & Art Gallery (P) Brian F Kirkham 2017
And how can i forget the foundation stone on which this blog was made.?…(Ha Ha)
My second home (well, i volunteer here enough to call it home! 🙂 )
Imperial War Museum North , (P) Brian F Kirkham, 2013
Salford, 4th September
I’m sat down having Just got home from the Imperial war museum, in Manchester, where i’ve been helping out in the galleries, helping people around.
In this role , i’m occasionally stood by the information station, where various objects to do with the first and second world war are on display
This station is mobile and can move around with its four wheels, around the vast area known as the main exhibition space.
The objects on the information station vary, from gas masks to various headgear, and relate to the large objects around the space. There are uniforms from modern day conflict as well as those from world war I and II. As Volunteers, we use the items to introduce visitors to the space as well as putting them at ease with the space they are in – It’s a bit dark in there sometimes.
Salford 16th August 2017
taken by inky like a magpie in summer, and collated for your enjoyment in response to the daily post
1. Diamond backed frog with two coins of the realm
2. The Moon, taken from a Salford Sky at Night
3. Plane in the test flight area of the RAF Museum at Cosford
4. Oldham Museum and Art Gallery – with its glass roof
5 . Coins
6. Pottery at Salford Museum and art Gallery
7. Imperial War Museum North’s Metal “Shattered Earth” – Really Shiny on Summer days
Salford, 11th July 2017
when taking an interest in a subject, it pays to get the most of the subject matter.
Do your research, but don’t restrict yourself to a library 📚 books are great, however if you can see an item relating to your interest….it makes your interest solid.. tangible.
Its probably why I enjoy walking round the county museums and art galleries
taking in the counties art collections and exhibits and learning about the stories behind the picture.
I’ve covered the imperial war museum north a lot on this site. But there are many other galleries that bring art and history to life.
Lark hill place in the city art gallery is one such example. Whilst others admire the paintings of Lowry and other local artists, You walk down an actual Victorian street.
You can see items in the windows, smell the smells of Victorian life and hear the sounds of a Victorian day…hear the hooves of the horses hitting the cobbles, and the clang of the blacksmith getting ready to replace those horses shoes …all before going back to modern life and enjoying your packed lunch.
immerse yourself….you will enjoy it
Monday 5th June 2017
Venue : Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridge
An early morning start at IWM North on Monday, as we met up with fellow volunteers and staff from the other branches at IWM Duxford for Volunteers week.
We travelled south through the Midlands on our journey, stopping off on some familiar services on the M6 and M1… the route usually adopted when I visit my relatives there. It was a bit rainy on the way there, but I was looking forward to visiting Duxford. Due to that branch holding most of the museums Aircraft Collection
We arrived at Duxford’s Entrance around about noon, and then after a short repast, we all entered the main hall, where the chairman of the imperial war museum welcomed us all and the ceremonies for the volunteer awards commenced.
I received my award for “Developing in a Role” from the chairman – and heard my Vollie Manager deliver a wonderful (more than a ) few words on why i’d won it!
How I started as a guide, then doing object handling and family history….
I did whisper at one point….”Ta boss! you can stop now….!!!” (sic)
Matt by Fighter Aircraft
After the awards ceremony, we took a look around the hangar and the various activities on display, this included seeing how concorde dipped its nose, to sending messages by morse code – to walking on board a Lancaster bomber. I enjoyed walking round the RAF Fleet, and got a really good view of the planes from the top deck of the gallery.
IWM Duxford , Cambridge, 5/6/2017
For a brief moment today,
looking around the hangar in Cambridge
I got to see the marvels of flight first hand
Great planes – from early pioneers to new planes and even spaceflight
Hoped to see something special – and I wasn’t disappointed
Tomorrow – i’ll take a look at what I captured
Salford 5th January 2017
This afternoon, I’ve been helping out at Imperial War Museum North just over the bridge from Salford, by the banks of the Manchester ship canal.
Regular readers will know I help out with the computers on the “Your History” information point and throughout the Main exhibition space. Well, Today I’ve been directing visitors by the special gallery and giving assistance where necessary.
The special gallery covers the time in British history where clothes were rationed, in order to preserve fuel and resources during war time.
As part of the exhibition – a special handling collection has been created, by some of the volunteers with help from the museum staff. This is shown on our Information station, where volunteers and veterans talk about specific objects and the tales behind them.
Monday Afternoon saw me returning back over the Bridge to the Home of the Imperial War Museum in the North, on the Trafford side of the Manchester Ship Canal
Today has seen me on the Information point Handling trolley, where visitors from all around the country have been able to look at objects and pick them up as the volunteers tell a little bit about the items the visitor is holding and a little about its origins.
These range from a helmet used by the armed forces during the battle of the somme, which was later used in world war II, to a babies gas mask used during world war ii as protection against potential gas attack.
In addition we direct and explain how to go around the big area that makes up the main exhibition space, which holds objects from World war I to Modern day
The Trolley is always of interest to visitors both young and old, because of the interactive nature of the exhibits. Schoolchildren enjoy hearing about the objects on display.
