photo - album1

Kate Adie visits the Museum

Friday 3rd October

Kate Adie, world renowned war correspondent, visiting the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Just how exciting was this for all the staff. We could hardly believe it when Kate’s agent, Kerry Hodder, called Jackie and gave her a ‘take it or leave it date’ that Kate could visit. We ummed and aahed but eventually came to the conclusion that the date would be fine what!! We jumped at the chance. But just how did she know of our existence?

Way back in mid 2002 Debbie had completed a project for her NVQ level 4 which involved producing an exhibition. Obviously it had to be a paper exercise as Debbie had no experience of putting on an exhibition nor was there anywhere in the Museum to display it! But the Director liked the idea of Debbie’s ‘pretend’ exhibition Role Reversal which utilised various images in the Photograph Collection. These were mainly of members of the WRNS doing ‘men’s work’ and men onboard submarines doing what, in civvy street, would be described as ‘women’s work’ cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing etc. "Make it so" cried the Director so a team was assembled for the task. The Technical Services team transformed the café annex into an exhibition area and Debbie (Keeper of Photographs), Maggie (Archivist) along with Jackie, the Education Officer and Alexandra (Keeper of Artefacts) put their heads together on the extra content that would be needed to make it an exhibition that would not only bring in extra visitors but also fulfil National Curriculum criteria.

The ‘Role Reversal’ theme expanded to take in the history of the WRNS from 1917 until the end of WWII. Then again from when women became eligible for sea service to their present (almost) integrated day role.

The National Curriculum part of the exhibition centred around rationing and The Home Front focusing on the extraordinary work carried out by the women at home.

During the long meeting about interpretations and captions etc came the question ‘Who should we get to open it’. A couple of names were bandied around when Jackie piped up ‘what about Kate Adie!?’ After we had picked up all the rotten tomatoes and stitches up all our sides we thought ‘Hey, what a great idea’. Maggie was chosen to do the necessary research by virtue of running the library and Kate Adie had just written a book!! Well she was tracked down. Maggie put the question to Kate’s agent who agreed to put it to Kate and during the Christmas holiday of 2002 Kate’s agent e-mailed Maggie to say that Kate would be delighted to open the exhibition. When Maggie returned from leave she had a phone call from Kerry apologising profusely and saying that Kate was no longer available to be here for the opening. Slightly confused Maggie confessed to Kerry that she had no recollection of a confirmation ‘but I e-mailed it just before Christmas’. Ah well, she nearly opened the exhibition.

Never mind we had a wonderful substitute in ex Third Officer Audrey Conningham who saved a submariners life when the Depot Ship HMS Medway was sunk during WWII. The opening event was wonderful and the exhibition has been very popular both with members of the public and school children who come to do Jackie’s workshops.

As tenacious as ever Maggie never let go of trying to get Kate to visit. Shortly after Maggie left the Museum for pastures Scottish, Jackie received the call. Friday 3rd October 2003 at 4.45. We had three weeks to do the Museum justice and organise an evening on the scale that we had not seen before.

A guest list was put together mixing together the ‘great and the good’. These ranged from the Museum's great friend Lady Fieldhouse to community organisations such as representatives from Gosport Police and Ambulance stations, colleagues from other museums and military personnel, many from the QARNNS. The 106 chairs that could be fitted into the classroom were all accounted for .... we could have filled it twice over such was the huge interest and demand for tickets.

After much hard work from the team the big night arrived. We were all extremely excited and nervous. Nobody had ever met Kate. Was this merely an opportunity to sell her books..... heck no....

After a very nervous half hour wait Kate arrived - a victim of the A32! She was met by Jeff Tall and Jackie who showed her down to the Museum site.

First she had an interview with Catherine from The Portsmouth News. Here she was, a young journalist interviewing one of the world’s most famous female journo’s .. she owned up to feeling more than a little nervous!!

As it was the interview went really well and Catherine wrote a wonderful article for her newspaper.

After meeting the press Kate was given a tour of HMS Alliance. We thought it might be ‘old hat’ for her but she thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob Mealings, the Curator, then showed Kate around the new Holland Gallery and Kate was mightily impressed with the building itself and also the history of the boat.

On completion the group made the short walk to the classroom where she gave a talk that was incredibly entertaining, amusing and educational.

After the talk it was back down to the site where Kate signed copies of her book. Our biggest thrill as the fact that she spent until way after 9pm (the evening was supposed to end at 9pm) chatting with guests and staff, whilst we all enjoyed the buffet that had been laid on, and appeared to be having a really good evening.

She left us saying how wonderful the night was and that she would love to come back and visit us when the Fieldhouse building was completed.

May be we ought to start planning it now!!

On the evening donations were collected that would go towards a statue entitled ‘Memorial to the Women of World War Two’ which is hoped will be erected near the Cenotaph in London. Debbie and Jackie travelled to the Houses of Parliament and handed over a cheque for £250.00 to Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the patrol of the fund.

A wonder way to wrap the event up.

Thanks to Ian Edelman for the Kate Adie images.

Kate Adie visits the Museum Friday 3rd October
	Kate Adie, world renowned war correspondent, visiting the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Just how exciting was this for all the staff. We could hardly believe it when Kate’s agent, Kerry Hodder, called Jackie and gave her a ‘take it or leave it date’ that Kate could visit. We ummed and aahed but eventually came to the conclusion that the date would be fine what!! We jumped at the chance. But just how did she know of our existence?

Way back in mid 2002 Debbie had completed a project for her NVQ level 4 which involved producing an exhibition. Obviously it had to be a paper exercise as Debbie had no experience of putting on an exhibition nor was there anywhere in the Museum to display it! But the Director liked the idea of Debbie’s ‘pretend’ exhibition Role Reversal which utilised various images in the Photograph Collection. These were mainly of members of the WRNS doing ‘men’s work’ and men onboard submarines doing what, in civvy street, would be described as ‘women’s work’ cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing etc. "Make it so" cried the Director so a team was assembled for the task. The Technical Services team transformed the café annex into an exhibition area and Debbie (Keeper of Photographs), Maggie (Archivist) along with Jackie, the Education Officer and Alexandra (Keeper of Artefacts) put their heads together on the extra content that would be needed to make it an exhibition that would not only bring in extra visitors but also fulfil National Curriculum criteria.
The ‘Role Reversal’ theme expanded to take in the history of the WRNS from 1917 until the end of WWII. Then again from when women became eligible for sea service to their present (almost) integrated day role. The National Curriculum part of the exhibition centred around rationing and The Home Front focusing on the extraordinary work carried out by the women at home.
During the long meeting about interpretations and captions etc came the question ‘Who should we get to open it’. A couple of names were bandied around when Jackie piped up ‘what about Kate Adie!?’ After we had picked up all the rotten tomatoes and stitches up all our sides we thought ‘Hey, what a great idea’. Maggie was chosen to do the necessary research by virtue of running the library and Kate Adie had just written a book!! Well she was tracked down. Maggie put the question to Kate’s agent who agreed to put it to Kate and during the Christmas holiday of 2002 Kate’s agent e-mailed Maggie to say that Kate would be delighted to open the exhibition. When Maggie returned from leave she had a phone call from Kerry apologising profusely and saying that Kate was no longer available to be here for the opening. Slightly confused Maggie confessed to Kerry that she had no recollection of a confirmation ‘but I e-mailed it just before Christmas’. Ah well, she nearly opened the exhibition.
Never mind we had a wonderful substitute in ex Third Officer Audrey Conningham who saved a submariners life when the Depot Ship HMS Medway was sunk during WWII. The opening event was wonderful and the exhibition has been very popular both with members of the public and school children who come to do Jackie’s workshops. As tenacious as ever Maggie never let go of trying to get Kate to visit. Shortly after Maggie left the Museum for pastures Scottish, Jackie received the call. Friday 3rd October 2003 at 4.45. We had three weeks to do the Museum justice and organise an evening on the scale that we had not seen before.
A guest list was put together mixing together the ‘great and the good’. These ranged from the Museum's great friend Lady Fieldhouse to community organisations such as representatives from Gosport Police and Ambulance stations, colleagues from other museums and military personnel, many from the QARNNS. The 106 chairs that could be fitted into the classroom were all accounted for .... we could have filled it twice over such was the huge interest and demand for tickets. After much hard work from the team the big night arrived. We were all extremely excited and nervous. Nobody had ever met Kate. Was this merely an opportunity to sell her books..... heck no....
After a very nervous half hour wait Kate arrived - a victim of the A32! She was met by Jeff Tall and Jackie who showed her down to the Museum site.
		First she had an interview with Catherine from The Portsmouth News. Here she was, a young journalist interviewing one of the world’s most famous female journo’s .. she owned up to feeling more than a little nervous!!

As it was the interview went really well and Catherine wrote a wonderful article for her newspaper.
After meeting the press Kate was given a tour of HMS Alliance. We thought it might be ‘old hat’ for her but she thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob Mealings, the Curator, then showed Kate around the new Holland Gallery and Kate was mightily impressed with the building itself and also the history of the boat.
On completion the group made the short walk to the classroom where she gave a talk that was incredibly entertaining, amusing and educational.
After the talk it was back down to the site where Kate signed copies of her book. Our biggest thrill as the fact that she spent until way after 9pm (the evening was supposed to end at 9pm) chatting with guests and staff, whilst we all enjoyed the buffet that had been laid on, and appeared to be having a really good evening.
She left us saying how wonderful the night was and that she would love to come back and visit us when the Fieldhouse building was completed. May be we ought to start planning it now!!
On the evening donations were collected that would go towards a statue entitled ‘Memorial to the Women of World War Two’ which is hoped will be erected near the Cenotaph in London. Debbie and Jackie travelled to the Houses of Parliament and handed over a cheque for £250.00 to Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the patrol of the fund. A wonder way to wrap the event up. Thanks to Ian Edelman for the Kate Adie images.