WYTHALL WORKS
Easter re-opening used to require a flurry of activity to do a major clear up of the site and prepare it for the visiting public. Fortunately, these days we keep on top of things, so the effort could be directed at final preparations. Paul Gray did his annual spring clean of all the electric vehicles and many of the buses had a full wash. This included the Trent AEC Regal, which, after over a year when it has been hardly visible to the public, has been brought out of its hiding place, and both washed and greased. A number of vehicles have had interiors cleaned and the accumulated rubbish removed from at least the lower deck so that our visitors can look inside and see what a bus should look like.
One major job completed in the run up to Easter was a refit for the kitchen in the café. Over the winter the materials required have been assembled and Dave and Alex Potts and Kevin Hill blitzed the fitting job over a weekend. This even included replacing one of the exterior walls that proved to be well rotten. The weather was kind and allowed this repair to be painted before it rained although it proved impossible to get a matching colour paint! The shop and café area also benefited from a good clean and some of the enamel signs which decorate it being fixed to the walls.
One of the requirements of our insurers is that we provide barriers to prevent the public getting where they should not be. Consequently a number of new barriers and notices have appeared, particularly in the workshop area, by the building materials store and at the side of the Scania Hall. Additional signs have been provided where the railway crosses the roadway and there is to be further discussion with the Elmdon Model Engineers about the barriers at the entrance.
Although the combination of a lack of paint and dry weather prevented the car park being relined prior to Easter this has now been done. A new bit of railing by the carriages to try to dissuade the public from walking along the railway line to enter the site has been painted and suitable signs will be erected shortly.
Encroaching vegetation is a continuing battle. Dennis Herbert has started his usual work on the grass with additional help with strimming the places a lawn mower does not reach. Mick Green has done an excellent job in sweeping the car park and the raking up the grass cuttings. Mick Doolan has continued removing brambles so that the main display yard looks much tidier, particularly where the old rusting lathe used to be.
Whilst sometimes those of us who spend much of our time at the museum may not notice change, it is reassuring how many visitors bother to compliment us that the site is looking well cared for. Thanks are due to all who do the work in making the museum look presentable so that people enjoy their visit.
Phil Ireland
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
