Blog

Bringing History Alive

On the 6th October the Museum, in collaboration with library colleagues, held an afternoon Teachers' Event, entitled Bringing History Alive, on the top floor of 96 Shenley Road.

Six teachers from four local primary schools attended. After a 20 minute presentation outlining the outreach services which the Museum could offer to schools, teachers had an opportunity to visit the museum, look at the varied artefacts in the Loan Boxes, peruse local maps and talk to museum volunteers as well as the Children's Librarian and Local History Librarian.

The Shenley Fellowship

Dave Armitage, with the help of Vania Ermolly, carried out a talk and PowerPoint presentation to the Shenley Fellowship on Tuesday 11th.  Dave reports : “This was relating to WW1 in Shenley and was the first time that we had researched and talked about somewhere outside our own area. 18 people were at the event, which was well received. After we had tea, cakes and a chat about local memories"

EastEnders Launched

Our new Eastenders Exhibition was launched last Friday with a gathering of BBC staff and local dignitries as the new display panels and new EastEnders set model was revealed.  There were 44 guests present including from the BBC the EastEnders Archivist and the Head of BBC History, along with Donald Graham, Chief Executive - Hertsmere Borough Council, Hilary Shade – Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement, Cllr Brenda Batten – portfolio holder for Leisure, Culture and Health and some Museum Trustees.

The first photo shows part of the new Exhibition, the second shows Dominic Treadwell-Collins, the Executive Producer of EastEnders opening the Exhibition flanked by Museum Manager Dave Armitage and Ruth Stratton, Hertsmere Heritage and Museums Officer, while the third shows Hertsmere Mayor Councillor Martin Worcester.  Photos by Clive Butchins

Families Day 2015

Crowds gather round the stands

The Museum stall at the Families Day on Saturday was our best display ever, and the large number of Borehamwood and Elstree residents who dropped in for a chat were well pleased with all the items on show.  Whether it was announcing new exhibitions into 2017, reminders about our monthly reminiscence meetings (Going Down The Village) or asking for more Friends and Volunteers there was something for every visitor.  We were especially interested in gathering information from everyone for our 2017 exhibition From Village To Town – Celebrating A Century Of Migration by finding out from where the residents of Borehamwood had originated.  With large maps of London, the UK and the World there were soon lots of pins showing the varied boroughs, cities and countries from whence our population originate.  Thanks to everyone who dropped by – good to see you all!

Museum Volunteer Helen Stamp studies her handiwork after setting up

Our History Walk

The yearly Museum History Walk took place on Sunday 21st and although it was the longest day, it wasn’t the longest walk!  But it was the best attended so far with over 40 of us history fans following Dave Armitage, the Museum Manager, around the housing areas and open spaces in north east Borehamwood.  We were exploring the rapid growth of Borehamwood’s houses and schools after the war when the LCC built over 4000 houses in the early 1950s.  We also took in the Football Club, the long–gone

Campions House, the fake bus-stop where Blakey was soaked in On The Buses (photo above), and the growth of the Leeming Road shops.  Passing back through Aberford Park we saw where Princess Margaret visited the town and opened Saint Michaels and All Angels church, and we also passed through the area where the original sewage works were in the open countryside – now Brook Road!  Thanks to Dave for such an entertaining afternoon, complete with photos and maps.

Thanks to Cllr Clive Butchens for the excellent photos

Europe Erupts For The Friends

On Saturday 6th June 35 Friends of the Museum met for their second social event of the year at 96 Shenley Road. The theme for the evening was Europe Erupts. Lynda Marshall, Museum volunteer, talked about the First World War from the German perspective, and this was followed by a showing of the excellent DVD Hertfordshire - A County At War, depicting the struggles of everyday life in the county during WW1. Refreshments were served and the evening ended with a chance to catch up with old Friends as well as make new ones. Membership of the Friends group is open to all, the subscription is £5 per year. As well as supporting your local Museum you will receive three newsletters annually, with articles of historical interest and dates of forthcoming events, as well as an invitation to 'Friends' exclusive events. If you would like to join please click on this LINK

A Few Of Our Friends

Going Down The Village in June

Eighteen of our regulars came to the June meeting of Going Down The Village, the Museum's reminiscence group. The topic was Holidays and A Day at the Seaside. Lots of laughter once more as people shared their memories of knitted swim suits, donkey rides and fun at Butlins and Hayling Island holiday camps.

We meet again in July to share our memories of Food and Eating Out. All welcome -  Do join us.

Peter Stokes

Peter Stokes

22 October 1928 – 16 May 2015
CEng FIMechE MRAeS

The funeral took place yesterday in All Saints Church in Shenley Road of Peter Stokes who was a great friend of both the Church and the Museum.  An engineer by trade he wrote several pamphlets about local history for the Museum including the story of Shenley Aerodrome.  His knowledge of the local area, its history and people was immense and he will be sorely missed.  And not just in Borehamwood – his passion for engines and planes meant he was active at the Hendon RAF Museum, The London Museum of Water & Steam, and other car museums in England. And he always had time for everyone for a chat, and made you feel he’d known you all his life.  

Generous Donation

David Lally, a film and TV fan who is enthusiastic about The Prisoner, which was filmed at MGM Studios in Borehamwood, presented a £500 cheque to Elstree and Borehamwood Museum and £500 to Elstree Screen Heritage Monday 18 May in the evening.

David said: “The borough has a superb cinematic and TV history. I have visited the area many times, particularly around the different locations used in the filming of The Prisoner and other film and TV series, and enjoy visiting the Museum.

“I wanted to give a little back. Elstree and Borehamwood is well known amongst film and TV experts, especially in the Science Fiction world - indeed it is world famous! After all, the name appears at the end of almost every well-known UK production."

The Museum is very grateful to David for his generous donation, which will go towards preserving our unique heritage for all to enjoy in the future.

Our photos show Paul Welsh (ESH), Dave Lally, Dave Armitage (EBWM)