from inkdrop – poetry, places and events
Salford 5th February 2020
A tale of a meet and greeter at IWM North, Manchester
Take a good handful of young minds
and interesting artifacts from a fire engine to a British tank
under some really unusual lighting
give them a tale of a teapot smashed and
hold their attention with items in a display – leave for 5 –
then let them handle an old helmet or two
! While you tell them all about it !
#Octpowrimo #Brokenpieces
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester UK (via the Inkwell), 22nd October 2019
How does someone express the act of war ?
take you through a hundred years
and tell that tale – that no one else can tell anymore.
The man with a vision
took a thing for brewing his cuppa
and changed it into something – iconic
Smashed with a hammer
Earth air and water
came together and reformed
Falling at the side of a waterway
painted by a painter
who’s centre stood next door
And in the evening sunlight
the air shard shone as shimmering light
cascaded off its solid steel
Morning beckons
and the tales from the shards
can be heard across town
from the tales within.
There’s a wall in the special exhibition of IWM North called lest we forget, asking peoples opinions of how we should remember the lost of two world wars – i’ve summed it up in this acrostic
The wall spoke clearly
having delivered its verdict
it was clear to those asked – the idea of
not remembering two world wars was a bad one
keep on remembering – silently whispered the opaque squares
it’s what we promised those who fell
note the date – and commemorate the lost of the
great war and the one that took place soon after
IWM North, Trafford, Manchester , 5th October 2018
#octpowrimo
A year to remember
else everyone forgets
the sacrifice of those
who joined up fighting
for king and country
each one now a memory
flowing down from the earth
a century later
Red poppies are flowing down the top of the earth shard of IWM North
Each poppy was created to remember those who fell in the war to end all wars
Memorial to the host of soldiers who went to the front
Expecting to be home by Christmas
Men not only from the home nations,
But the commonwealth and allies from Europe too
Regiments who met and fought on a field in flanders
As part of the first world war centenary, this artwork is a
Noted reminder, of those who went away to fight and
Came to rest in a foreign field
Each one remembered in the symbol of the poppy
IWM North, September 2018
an acrostic poem by inkdrop, on the newest arrival in the Main exhibition space of
IWM North in Trafford….
Made up at the Locomotion works in Bolton
A Machine to bring terror to the enemies eyes
Thundering across land and desert
Hot on the tail of any enemy Infantry
In time, tales would be told about her and her thundering wheels
Launching shells and ammo towards the enemy
Dangerous ? all missions are aren’t they
Allies relying on this mighty armoured tank
IWM North via Salford, 26th March 2018
We’re losing an old friend in a few days time.
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.
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,30th June 2017
Hi folks.
The prompt for today’s post comes from a strange source – in that its not technological at all – it’s the humble letterbox.
Aside from my scribbles – and photography – I am a keen philatelist – or stamp collector.
There’s a reason for this – the pictures give me a source of inspiration in my own writing and photography, and the information contained within give me impetus to explore the world around me.
To avoid the fidgety nature of hanging the mini pics in an album – I get first day covers, which have an added bonus of having a cancellation (or postmark) with a connection to the subject matter.
Todays missive, however – brought a smile to my face
The forthcoming issue – Landmark Buildings has a stamp subject I’ve become very familiar with over the past few years
Yes, the iconic branch of the Imperial War Museum in the North, where I help out as a volunteer, has found its way onto a Royal Mail First Day Cover.
It joins other iconic landmarks such as the Everyman theatre in nearby Liverpool and the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff.
