News
Friends Win Awards
The Museum and the Friends had another fantastic result at the annual London Volunteers in Museums Awards. For 2012, we put forward nine nominations and achieved the following:
- WINNER: Tom Cavanagh, Developing in a role
- HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sam Clift, Supporting volunteers
- HIGHLY COMMENDED: Young volunteers, Best team
- RUNNER UP: John Waters, Developing in a role
- RUNNER UP: David Wadley, Long service
- RUNNER UP: Dilwyn Rees, Long service
- RUNNER UP: Laurie Akehurst, Going the extra mile
- RUNNER UP: David Berwick, Going the extra mile
- RUNNER UP: Happy Museum Project/Object handling team, Best team
These awards were presented at a ceremony on 7 June 2012 at the Museum of London.
Loudwater's Little Bus
On Sunday 25th March, the Friends marked the 40th annniversary of the withdrawal of bus route 336A (which served the Loudwater Estate at Rickmansworth) by operating special free journeys on the route using the Museum's GS-type bus. The event was popular with Friends and Estate residents alike.
In the accompanying photo, GS 64 is shown in the attractive surroundings of the private Loudwater Estate.
The Friends have published a commemorative booklet describing the history of the Estate and its dedicated bus service. "Loudwater's Litttle Bus" is available from the Friends Office, London Transport Museum. 39 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7BB. Please enclose a cheque for £2 (to include postage) made payable to The London Transport Museum Friends and mark the envelope "336A booklet".
Aldwych Open Days
In conjunction with London Underground, the Museum opened Aldwych station to pre-booked visitors over two weekends in late November and early December 2011.
Tickets sold out rapidly; during the six days, some 2,500 people took the rare opportunity to visit a closed Underground station. Friends’ volunteers were actively involved as stewards and guides. Friends also had a recruitment and information desk at the station.
In the photograph, a Friends’ volunteer describes the features of the station booking hall to a group of visitors.
Busy Autumn for Friends
Friends' Secretary Guy Marriott driving the prototype Routemaster (RM1) at the Depot Open Weekend
The London Transport Museum Friends are having a busy autumn. In late September they were the hosts in London of the annual conference of the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAfM). This was attended by over 60 delegates from museums around the UK.
In early October, Friends played key roles in the London Transport Museum's Open Weekend at The Depot at Acton, operating heritage bus trips and the Acton Miniature Railway, and providing stewards for the event, along with a sales stall.
In late October, the Friends supported London Transport Museum's vehicle presence at "The Best Ever London Bus Gathering at Brooklands (RM1 and K424 attended) with a Friends' sales and information stand.
In November and December, Friends' volunteers are assisting with the public opening of Aldwych station to pre-booked visitors.
Rickmansworth Heritage Bus Service
London Transport Museum Friends organised and operated the heritage bus service which linked Rickmansworth station with the Rickmansworth Canal Festival site on Sunday 22nd May. The vehicles used were RM1 from the London Transport Museum collection and RT 3228 from the London Bus Company.
The buses ran in connection with a heritage train service running between Harrow On The Hill, Watford and Amersham via Rickmansworth, using the Museum’s 1938 tube stock train and Met locomotive Sarah Siddons with its special set of carriages.
The photo (by Laurie Akehurst) shows both buses at Rickmansworth station.