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EastEnders At 40 - Remembering Our Opening Night

If you had been following us on this blog with our regular updates, you'll know how much we managed to accomplish in the two weeks we were closed.

We built a replica of the Queen Vic bar, complete with the bust of the Queen herself, and original working hand pumps - no beer included.

We re-created Martin Fowler’s fruit and veg stall in the middle of the Museum, complete with realistic props, and some real fruit and veg.

And we produced nine wall panels telling the story and background to the last 40 years of the programme, while filling our display cases with props loaned from the BBC.  These include Dot Cotton's outfit and Sharon's wedding dress, not to mention some nasty looking murder weapons.

Thank you to actor Adam Woodyatt, (Ian Beale, of course), who we invited to open the Exhibition by cutting the ‘Do Not Cross’ police tape with the one and only pair of Museum scissors. Hertsmere’s Mayor, Cllr Alpha Collins and Elstree and Borehamwood’s Town Mayor, Cllr Dan Ozarow were also present, as were members of the BBC who had assisted and supported us.

Not forgetting those who created the Exhibition - Ruth the inspirer, Dave the problem solver, Tony the master builder, and Simon the odd-job person.

Come and visit us - you will be amazed at what we've achieved in 50 square feet (again!)

  

The Friends Visit Bletchley Park

Here's a few photos taken by Derek Allen when the Friends visited Bletchley Park recently. An excellent day out all concurred with much to view and acres to walk around. It's no secret now that you should be a Friend to enjoy such benefits!

  

 

  

 

EastEnders At 40 : Open Now

      

Our new Exhibition is now open and fans of the soap are dropping by to see our creation of the Queen Vic bar and taking selfies with the beer pumps and the Queen's head.

Don't forget Ian's Market Stall - are the fruit and veg real?  And Sharon's wedding dress and Dot's dress and coat.

There's a free EastEnders At 40 beer mat for everyone who visits.  Don't delay, come in today!

    

    

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P : Stage Three - The Final Push

We're nearly there at last - just a few days and a final push and our new Exhibition will be open on Thursday. Here's a few teasing photos for you of the panels, display cases, and Vic in the library waiting her place on the bar.  Wonder who the costume fits?

     

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P. : Stage Two

  

Some items for the Exhibition have arrived from the BBC including a rather large 'zero' and a 'four'. What could they be for?  And Tony is getting on with his bar and beer pumps. Cheers!, everyone.

EastEnders At 40 - W. I. P. : Stage One

  

We've started the process of preparing for the next Exhibition - everything is stripped out. Our little Nipper plane is in two pieces and has gone off to the De Havilland Museum, while all the other items from the Elstree Aerodrome story have flown back from whence they came.

Now we begin the new build - some items have arrived from the BBC.  More details to follow soon...

   

Our New Exhibition : EastEnders At 40

The Museum is now closed for a couple of weeks. Thanks to everyone who came to visit our Elstree Aerodrome story and to fly the plane around the aerodrome.

We are now preparing our next exciting Exhibition : EastEnders At 40. The BBC are giving us lots of iconic props, lots of photos of the dramatic stories, and even some plastic fruit and veg! Why?  You'll have to come and find out.

We will have a full-size model of the Queen Vic bar, complete with the bust of Vic herself, and there will be many opportunites for selfies behind the bar.

Opening on Thursday 4th September, we will be updating you on what's happened in Albert Square in the ten years since our last EastEnders At 30 Exhibition. 

And updating you here on the Blog as the Exhibition comes together, so please check in as the opening gets closer!

Summertime Fun!

We've added some fun to our current Exhibition for the holidays!  So now you can still fly our plane from Elstree down to the Thames and under Tower Bridge, and you can now play a few of those games you remember from your youth as well.  Have a go at Simon, Bagatelle, Rubricks, Nintendo and that buzzer thingie that no one can do. Show the kids how simple life was BP (Before Phones) and how easily pleased we were!  Seriously folks, it's holiday fun time so take a selfie with the cutout couple and pretend you're at the beach.

Do You Remember VE Day?

Where were you on VE Day, the 8th May 1945?  There were many street parties in Borehamwood and Elstree, and our elder citizens are sure to remember this day.  After the deprivations and suffering of the War it was such a relief to get together and enjoy the day, knowing the war was over.  Indeed some of our volunteers at the Museum remember the parties and talk about them. Here is a photo of the Bullhead Road party where the cameraman must be on a tall ladder. We are featuring this particular party because we have just received the photo below from Trevor Goody - now living in Perthshire - enjoying his day.  Thanks to Trevor for his photo - maybe you have a personal memory of your VE Day?

Alan Pyle Remembers :

The picture was probably taken by Cliff Almond and from the roof of the street shelter on the road outside the terrace of four properties nos. 138/144. You can see the other street shelter on the traffic island in the background with the fields beyond.  My family moved to no. 151 in 1939 and I recall the day well.

Life At Borehamwood Grammar School in the 60s

Our Friends Evening this week featured a talk by Alan Martin explaining how he came to write his book about his time at Borehamwood Grammar School. By weaving his story from the late 1950s through the way the Grammar School treated him and his fellow pupils during the 60s.  Giving the pupils a sound and solid education, and teasing out their individual attributes whether it be an aptitude for sports, arts or sciences. Even the insistence on rugby when the boys were really football fans and players, showed that the ethos of the school was towards excellence in all aspects regardless of background. Talking about his teachers and fellow pupils, and featuring memories of good and bad times, it was an enjoyable talk for everyone. Plenty of memories of past times, whichever school you went to in Borehamwood. His book is on sale in the Museum and on our website HERE.