Interesting yes, but I hope they dont do a number on these genuine enthusiasts.
Watched this last night and I have visited the BCVM quite a few times since it opened. I think the genuine enthusiasm and love for the vehicles and the sense of community came over very strongly. Clearly there is a very high level of expertise and knowledge within the museum's "Friends" group. Mjuseums and historic properties depend on a strong support group for their survival very often and that was very apparent through this programme. The actual funding make-up of the museum was not, however, expllored in any depth. The museum was originally set up as a partnership between several local authorities and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.
The documentary was quite unusual in that it did cover "warts and all" exactly what was going on and was much more involving than the regular style of say "Airline". What did come across was the major problem that many museums have faced when a Friends orgnisation becomes more than just a support group. The ethos of the museum can be subtly altered through that shift in the balance of power; the result of which is that the tail effectively wags the dog. This was clearly happening here with two of the Friends almost setting up their own museum within a museum and with a conflicting display theme (audio-visual equipment in a commercial vehicle museum) which clearly was not only somewhat renegade but significantly diluted the product and only served to potentially confuse visitors. Quite rightly in my view, although the Museum Manager is himself a volunteer, the Trustees and the Manager demonstrated authority when matters were almost coming to blows. Hopefully these recent episodes can be put behind them and the museum can be taken forward.
The award of museum accreditation is a great step towards ensuring that this highly important collection can remain viable and can grow. There are a number of bus museums and places where other commercials are exhibited, but The British Commercial Vehicle Museum that is contained within what was part of a world famous factory is unique. Hopefully this programme will have alerted many people to the museum's plight and that it will now be in a position to capture ongoing funding as well as establishing a more comprehensive product that can be promoted more widely. Good luck to all concerned.
As an aside, I didn't notice the Leyland Eight in any of the shots. Has it moved (to Gaydon?).
Any further insights may have to wait until next week's programme. It's on the (Sigmund) Freud Museum in London!
Edited by Pullman99, 14 May 2010 - 08:16.