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Latest news from the Museum For more news, visit the News archive Students Quiz Submarine
Crew Students from the University of Portsmouth are helping staff at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum research the history of one of their submarines. The students filmed interviews of four former crew members of HMS Alliance on Wednesday 16th April. The men, Admiral Frank Grenier, Lieutenant Mike Draper, Warrant Officer Andy Norris and Chief Stoker Jim Onions all served on the boat at different times of their careers. The museum is hoping to collect not only objects and photographs but also memories of her former crews. They will form part of a new exhibition based around HMS Alliance. The exhibition will open at the museum later in the year. The students, Luke Maguire, Lucy McLeod and Andy Bird are all studying filmmaking. They will be quizzing the submariners on their times on Alliance. Their film will form the centrepiece of the exhibition. If anyone has any interesting objects relating to the submarine, the museum would love to hear from them.
HMS ALLIANCE EXHIBITION The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is about to undertake an exhibition on HMS Alliance to open in summer 2008. We are keen to hear from anyone who served on Alliance, particularly if they have any objects from their time onboard. If anyone can help by donating items, please contact the Keeper of Artefacts, Alexandra Geary, on 02392 510354 ext 227, or email artefacts@rnsubmus.co.uk . Thank you in advance for your help. Alexandra Geary, Keeper of Artefacts
3rd March 2008
The Museum is currently renewing netting and meshing on board HMS Alliance in order to provide a permanent means of stopping pigeons roosting inside the free flood areas of the vessel. However, certains points of access are being left open while the most difficult parts of the vessel are being netted. In due course the birds remaining inside the vessel will be trapped and removed and the remaining points of access sealed up.
NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED FOR ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE MUSEUM 6th February 2008
The Trustees of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum are pleased to announce that Mrs Marion Budgett AMA will take over as Director of the Museum on the retirement of the present Director, Commander Jeff Tall OBE Royal Navy on 1st April 2008. Marion Budgett, until recently Director of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, is extremely well qualified for this position and is currently Curator (Operations and Corporate Development) of the West Berkshire Museum and has extensive previous Museum and Heritage experience with South Somerset District Council and as Deputy Keeper of the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon. Chairman of Trustees Rear Admiral Roger Lane-Nott explained that “the Trustees had an open mind when they started to search for a successor to Jeff Tall and we wanted an experienced and innovative manager who could take the Submarine Museum forward and build on what Jeff Tall had achieved. We consider that Marion meets all our criteria and welcome her into the submarine family.” Marion Budgett said “ I am delighted to have been selected as the new Director of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and really look forward to the challenge ahead. I may not have served in submarines myself but understand the unique place they and those who served in them over the last 106 years have in the history of the Royal Navy and the country. Museums have never been more vibrant than they are at present but there are always issues that need to be addressed. “
Jolly Roger Cafe wins award 1st October 2007 The Submarine Museum's cafe, The Jolly Roger, was awarded a silver medal for the second year running at an award ceremony for Gosport In Bloom last week, hosted by the TV personality Fred Dinenage at the Explosion! Museum in Gosport. Pigeon control on HMS Alliance 17th September 2007 The Museum is currently working with licensed pest control specialists in order to reduce the number of pigeons currently roosting in HMS Alliance. The birds will be trapped and killed in accordance with strict guidelines set out by the RSPB. The Museum is concerned that the level of contamination caused by the droppings is a potential health and safety hazard for both visitors and staff. This is the first time that the Museum has culled pigeons. It is not a long term strategy and hopefully will not need to be repeated, since other measures are planned in the future to deter birds from getting inside the boat.
Access all areas at the Submarine Museum September 2007
On September 8th and 9th, visitors to the Submarine Museum had the rare opportunity to climb inside the wartime midget submarine, HMS X-24 which is normally closed to the public.
It was all part of Heritage Open Days, a weekend event that celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.
The submarine was manned by Curator Bob Mealings, and Keeper of Artefacts Alexandra Geary, who were on hand to explain how the submarine worked.
Alexandra Geary commented, “We have had a very positive response this weekend. The visitors all found that climbing inside the midget submarine was a really exciting opportunity. Because of its success we intend to do an event every year for Heritage Open Days”.
Sea cadets Megan and Alex Hayes learn how X24 works
Fantastic Voyages July 2007 The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is opening a new exhibition about the world of imaginary submarines and underwater adventure from the 14th July.
Featuring 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and The Beatles Yellow Submarine this an exhibition for all the family. There are toys and games from the 1960s and 70s that will make the grown ups smile and a real yellow submarine for children to explore.
For more information contact Andrew Poole on 02392 510 354 extension 230, or email corporateservices@rnsubmus.co.uk
Local History created at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum 1st July 2007 By Andrew Poole Saturday 30th June may have been a miserable, rainy day for some but not at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum where smiles and happiness were in abundance! Local business man, Dave Pickersgill, managing director of The Oakleaf Brewery was proud to see his youngest daughter, Helen, marry Mr. Dean Sanderson, from Heywood, Lancashire. The reason history was made? The wedding ceremony took place in the John Fieldhouse Building at the museum, the first wedding to be held in such unique surroundings. Mr. Andrew Poole, corporate manager, was extremely pleased and proud at how well the proceedings went. “It's been a really happy day, the whole event was a success and the guests even enjoyed browsing around the museum and touring HMS Alliance.” The ceremony was followed by a reception for 70 guests, glasses raised with champagne and Nuptu'ale, one of the many award-winning beers brewed at the local brewery. It was obvious to all who were there that Helen and Dean were completely happy, as were all those who not only enjoyed a very special day, but who had also witnessed this little bit of history being made.
February 2007 Midget Submarine medals on display By Alexandra Geary
The Museum has recently acquired two very important sets of medals for its collection: the medals awarded to Lieutenant Frank Ogden and the miniature medals awarded to Vice Admiral Sir Ian McIntosh. Both sets of medals are on display next the midget submarine, HMS X-24 . Lieutenant Frank Ogden was part of the four-man crew of HMS X-24 when she carried out her first Bergen raid in 1944, which resulted in the sinking of a German battleship. He was awarded the Mention in Despatches for his part in the operation. Later, in the Far East, Ogden was appointed as a MBE for his service as a member of the passage crew for the midget submarine attack on the Japanese heavy cruiser Takao, when both Lieutenant Ian Fraser and Leading Seaman James Magennis won the VC.
Lieutenant (later Vice Admiral) Ian McIntosh was in command of HMS Sceptre when she towed X-24 to the entrance of Bergen Harbour, to carry out her raid. Sceptre earned the title of "Bring them back alive" as she was the only towing submarine which lost none of the X-craft in her care. Alexandra Geary, the Keeper of Artefacts commented: “It is fantastic that these medals can now been seen in the context of how they were won. Midget submarines took part in some of the most hazardous operations of the war, which these medals recognise.”
August 2006 ACCREDITATION By Alexandra Geary The Royal Navy Submarine Museum has just been officially awarded ‘Accredited' by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The Museum, which holds an outstanding collection relating to the Submarine Service from 1901 to the present day, is one of the first in the area to be awarded the status. The Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the UK. The Submarine Museum's award proves it measures up, meeting the guidelines on how it is run, how it looks after its collections and the services it provides its visitors. Alexandra Geary, the Keeper of Artefacts commented: “This means a great deal to the museum and I would like to thank all the staff for taking part. Our new status makes us eligible for external funding, which is absolutely essential if we are to press forward with the conservation of HMS Alliance”. Mark Wood, Chair of MLA, said: “Being awarded Accreditation is an impressive achievement. It recognises the high standard and service that the Submarine Museum provides and acknowledges the hard work of the staff. Many congratulations!”
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