Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears


I was due to give a talk to the Friends of The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven this evening. The subject -contemporary collecting, linked to our highly successful Afghanistan project that the Museum ran last year.

It seems so long ago since we worked on this project, a joint initiative with veterans, funded by the Armed Forces Covenenant Fund.  Recruiting veterans from around the County who had served in Afghanistan during the most recent conflict was challenging. There was some doubt whether people would volunteer to be part of this but after a slow start, they did.

There are times in your Museum career when you feel proud to work on a particular project. This was one such project. The veterans we worked with were fantastic, providing photos, and recollections some of which were quite painful. A wonderful selection of folk gave up their time to be filmed and this became a centrepiece of the exhibition Blood, Sweat & Tears which the Museum put together, with veteran support, last year.  The exhibition gave an insight into life in Afghanistan, from toilets to food, with quotes directly from those who were there.  

Although not a touring exhibition, it went on to be hosted by York Army Museum and was due to go to both the Fusiliers Museum in Bury and the Royal Military Police Museum in Southwick Park. This is definately recognition to all those who served in Afghan. The project was not Regiment, Corps or Service specific but highlighted the personal experiences of those who were there. And an opportunity for the Museum to collect memories from a more contemporary conflict for our archives, documenting their experiences for the future. Definately the type of project we would like to do again in the future.





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