Potential Trustees are treated to the (Coffin) Works!
The works? Well, a tour around Newman Brothers, a presentation, tea and a selection of cakes!
Last Friday the sun was shining as we showed applicants for our Volunteer Trustee Director positions around the factory. We made a decision not to clean up before hand, but to show people exactly what state the building is in… and the enormity of the task ahead!
After the tour we retired to the wonderful meeting room at the Pen Room Museum where applicants were given the opportunity to ask questions about the role and share their impressions, skills and enthusiasm with Elizabeth and some of the current Trustee Directors. We are hugely grateful for all the interest shown and looking forward to welcoming some new members to the board soon.
Many thanks to the BCT team for the invitation to your the Coffin Works. The potential for shared activities has not been lost on the Pen Room team. The workers must surely have used Birmingham made pens when compiling ledgers and other documents and one would think some of the pen factory owners even became customers on the road to Key Hill via St Paul’s perhaps.
We were also very pleased to play host to the Trustees and potential newcomers meeting after the visit.
Hi Nigel – Totally agree, there must be so many cross-overs which will link the various JQ heritage attractions – English Heritage are doing a piece of work exploring a joint heritage education offer for the JQ – you should share your ideas with Sheree (Malcolm has her details) – i’m sure she’ll be delighted for any research penroom have done to date.
Best, Suzanne
It was an absolutely fascinating afternoon and I was very glad to have the chance to explore the Coffin Works with you. There is so much potential in this old industrial space – it is phenomenally atmospheric and the odd-sized rooms inside lend themselves to creative experimentation. BCT are going to have great fun developing ways to share this treasure.