LAARC VIP7: A different perspective
November 1, 2010 Archaeology, Archaeology in Action, LAARC VIP, Volunteers
Hello there, I‘m one of the solid members of the LAARC VIP7 team and proud to be asked to write today’s blog. I first got involved with the museum of London just over 10 years ago. I joined up as part of the London Bones exhibition and it was fantastic. For about 5 months I spent everyday in the gallery. My job was to look after the bones of a Georgian skeleton. It was really good fun as I got to meet loads of interesting visitors.
After that exhibition I was quite lucky as I got to see a fair few places behind the scenes. I spent a bit of time in the various stores here, they used me to store packaging for a while up in conservation, but then I went to retire at the LAARC, where they store all of London’s archaeology. I was kept in their metal store for a good long time and helped out by storing various things for them over the years.
To be honest, I wasn’t really expecting to be of use again, so it was a thrill when I was asked to join this project. As a special treat, they gave me a full makeover, removing that 90’s Perspex cover look I used to go for and replacing that with a fine wooden body. I’ve got those lovely chaps in the technicians workshop to thank for my new look. They did a fine job in smoothing out my curves and even supplied me with a shelf for extra storage space.
The museum has very kindly provided me with a new home in it’s holding store and I get to ride in the goods lift every day!
After a decade away from the galleries it’s great to be back in the limelight with hundreds of people admiring me each day again. And so far, I’ve got to carry hundreds of amazing fragments of pottery on my back. I’ve also got to meet some lovely volunteers who are treating me exceptionally well.
It’s quite tough being a table at times, especially when groups of people rush up and lean on me a little too hard, but I wouldn’t swap what I’m doing for anything else. I hope I can be of use to the Museum once the project finishes and I may well get to return the galleries for another exhibition one day.
