Why I Volunteer

Robert,
There’s a bit of work needed there but the majority of the important stuff is there.
What’s the condition of the engine like??

Andy.

Andy, my Sunbeam.

I’m glad I’m getting back there now, even if just as an airshow visitor.

And I’m glad you’re back, even if I did nearly run you over with the quad the other Saturday.

My current personal project is identifying and learning about the 200 names inscribed on the wall of my local Church. All lost in the Great War, from all three Services and from a huge array of different, individual units. I’ve positively identified all but seven so far but they will come in time. The task now is to put flesh on the bones of people who have been dead for a minimum of 92 years and with no-one now in living memory I expect it to be a bit of a challenge. But what else am I going to do with my time?

And I trust you’ll be publishing this somewhere when complete.
:):confused::)

Andy

I have to ask – do they all have that “special” smell??

Oh yes. Especially when she’s been run recently! 🙂

Blue 2.
Graham, Get your bum down to my house, and we can go to the Collection, in H.D.1:eek:.

I’d best bring a balaclava then in case anyone I know sees me! 😀
Anyway you still owe Scott and I a trip up here…!

Just PM me when you want to go.

It shall be done 🙂

Blue 2.
Graham, Get your bum down to my house, and we can go to the Collection, in H.D.1:eek:.
I briefly met Andy, and Jim?. who gave me a “Behind the scenes” tour.
Great chaps, and it’s a great place to visit.
Just PM me when you want to go.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

That’s a very nice story!:) Apart from getting close and inside a beautiful white one a very long time ago as a CCF cadet the only other Victor I got close to is a nose section. I have to ask – do they all have that “special” smell??

One day Andy, I’ll get down to Shuttleworth. One day…

As you all probably know I volunteer on the Victor team at Elvington. I started a couple of years ago, the idea being I’d go across every other Sunday or so and do a bit on the jet. Here we are a bit further down the line and I’ve moved across to Elvington and spend practically all my spare time working on the jet!
It really has changed my life for the better. The team has a very close knit core group, all of whom I’m proud to now call good friends.
I’m not really a ‘people person’, but I love telling visitors about our jet and more importantly hearing about her and her V force sisters from visitors who knew her and other Victors in service. It really is an honour to sit in the cockpit and hear the stories of those who operated her, as much as it is to work on what is one of only 5 surviving examples of this beautiful piece of classic British engineering.
Volunteering also means there have been several special moments. A blast down the runway in her, being on board as part of the operating crew during engine runs, being stood on the jet as the Vulcan or one of BBMF’s fighters flys over, pushing a Mosquito out of a hangar and getting involved with many of the museum’s other aircraft, many special experiences I’d otherwise have missed out on.
And I’d not have met my Mrs had I not joined the jet team. But that’s another story…!

I do not volunteer but when work and other family commitments part company with me then I certainly have something in mind. For me and for tens of thousands of us people like you help to enrich our lives and for the past 50 years have helped to enrich our nation at leisure. I was trying to imagine how barren life would be be without all the activities volunteers help us to engage in.

I doff my hat to all of you, with great gratitude!

It’s not just about going out and physically volunteering in the way that Andy does. I also volunteered at the same Collection for a couple of seasons but in a very different capacity. It was fun, it was hard work, it was rewarding and it got me unprecedented access to the machines we love to see flying at the Collection. They were great times and have left me with very many cherished memories, however, circumstances arose which meant I was no longer able to commit the time which led to an exile lasting some five years. I’m glad I’m getting back there now, even if just as an airshow visitor.

But volunteering can take many forms. Whilst not able to physically get to work at a Museum, project or Collection, I, like many others, can find ways of keeping our interests alive and of helping others where we can. In my case it is the research I undertake. Generally speaking each piece of research was usually solely for my own interest, but as you go along you learn an awful lot and through that learning you find you can help others, and that’s even more fun than doing it for yourself. There’s not a week goes by now without a couple of emails or phone calls asking me how a person can find out what happened to a relative. Being able to help them is, in itself, massively rewarding.

My current personal project is identifying and learning about the 200 names inscribed on the wall of my local Church. All lost in the Great War, from all three Services and from a huge array of different, individual units. I’ve positively identified all but seven so far but they will come in time. The task now is to put flesh on the bones of people who have been dead for a minimum of 92 years and with no-one now in living memory I expect it to be a bit of a challenge. But what else am I going to do with my time?

Regards,

kev35

[QUOTE=Andy in Beds;19395

Jim.
Where you live you could build a lighthouse in your garden and the ships in The Wash would see it..!
Isn’t there an old lighthouse near Sutton Bridge..?

Andy, There are indeed two VERY disused lighthouses at Sutton Bridge, one on the East Bank, and one on the West.
They were rather useless, as was soon found out by boats, due to the ever shifting sandbanks. I have an old photo somewhere with an old Brig sailing by them, sepia coloured.
They later made a deep chanel, and marked it with bouy
s for ships to navigate up river to Wisbeach.
As regards me having a Lighthouse in my garden, I would love one, however being 10 miles away from the Wash, it would have to be high, and also the Fresnel Lense, and the modern lighting system would have to be very good, the average distance it would need to be seen would vary anywhere between 15 and 21 miles. Don’t think I would like to get up one morning, and find a Tanker in my garden;)
If I ever won the Lottery:rolleyes: I would buy one. One recently sold for about 5 Mil, to a Yank:eek:
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Old Army Saying “Never Volunteer” Very true in HM Forces but it looks great fun in civilian life. Nice one Andy!

One day, probably many years from now, I will be able to bring my currently derelict ’26 Model 9 Sunbeam to an event at Old Warden.

You’re a lucky man.
I’m very fond of old ‘Beams’.
If you got her going she’d be eligible for the Banbury run.
visit OW anytime and I’ll happily chat.

Jim.
Where you live you could build a lighthouse in your garden and the ships in The Wash would see it..!
Isn’t there an old lighthouse near Sutton Bridge..?

Andy

Thanks for the photo’s and details, Andy. I visit the collection occasionally, and always take a look at the vehicles. One day, probably many years from now, I will be able to bring my currently derelict ’26 Model 9 Sunbeam to an event at Old Warden.

People love to talk and it seems to me that there’s a wealth of really good knowledge just wasting away with the older generation–outside the efforts of places like the collection, no one is recording it or seemingly caring much about it.

Andy, Your dead right about no one caring, I believe I am the only Lighthouse, Lightship,, and Nav Aids restorer in the U.K. Even the various Lighthouse Authorities get in touch now and then for any info, as I have the only copies of repair manuals known to exist re Dalens items.A lot of documents were destroyed at Trinity House during the Blitz on London, during the war, never to be replaced, as they were the only original documents they had.
There is also part of my collection at the LIZARD lighthouse.and recently at Falmouth.
No one seems to have kept any sort of day to day workings of these Nav aids, as G.P.S. and D.G.P.S. has taken over.
A large Poll of ships Navigators was taken a few yrs ago, and they were asked which they preferred, their electronic aids or the Lighthouses, without a doubt they stated the Lighthouse.
Despite all the money Trinity House has, they are letting the lighthouses get into a state of dis repair.
The Yanks on the other hand treat their Lighthouses like National Treasures, and if the Coastguards, who are responsible for their upkeep, decide to close one down, due to the cost of maintainance etc, members form a group, and keep the lighthouses going, and all from their own work, and pockets.indeed, some even purchase the lighthouses themselves, as a group..

Why do we confine artifacts to the History books, instead of keeping at least one example in a museum, (Obviously, not a Lighthouse), but you see where I am coming from on this.
Keep up the good work.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Hi John.
Yes, the fat middle aged bloke in the pictures is me.
It’s both a great joy and a great honour to be able to ride/drive the vehicles.

Yesterday there was a meeting of vintage Rolls Royce cars and owners at the collection and for no other reason than purely entertainment (theirs–and a little of mine) I rode the Triumph around for a while.
I soon had the usual small crowd around me whenever I stopped.
It’s always wise to have one’s facts straight about the machine you’re riding because the depth of knowledge about ancient machines that some members of the public have is staggering.
Old motorbikes are always a great opener for conversations.
People love to talk and it seems to me that there’s a wealth of really good knowledge just wasting away with the older generation–outside the efforts of places like the collection, no one is recording it or seemingly caring much about it.

Andy
Good for you!
You’re helping the collection without having to have all the licesnses to work on aircraft…and you enjoy it.
Do they let you drive them?
If not, just hearing…and smelling…them run is fun.

I helped a friend restore his one-of-a-kind airworthy aircraft. Even though I’m unskilled, there was always something for me to do and it introduced me to some great people…and got me out of the house one night a week for a few years.

For those of you who don’t volunteer, just ask around, I’m sure there is something nearby that will interest you.

Andy, I completely agree, everyone should have a hobby. One of mine is the restoration of old Gustaf Dalens inventions made for lighthouses, They were taken out of service in the early 90s, and automated.
Trinity House, The Northern Lights Commissioners, and Irish lights, gave me a huge amount of redundant items, which I spent many, many hrs restoring, As with these things, it all got out of hand, and I donated my collection to Hurst Castle where it is on display. I have also written scripts for the Coast TV series re the Mull of Galloway, The “D” day landings, which was shown on Sky T.V. and also for the BBC.
At least it keeps me out of harms way, being in my shed, grinding and polishing, making new parts etc.
I have just picked up a brand new still crated 3, 500 Watt bulb from Trinity House, I was going to try it out, but can well imagine my next electric bill, as the charges have just gone up.:)
I suppose in a way, my donation of my collection, was voluntary work, and it’s there for future generations, rather that what would have happened to it all, Scrapped and gone forever.
May see you soon, I took my Grandson to East Kirby to see “Just Jane” and the Panton Bros let him look inside, he was very interested, so lets hope he wants to see a premire collection at Old Warden.NAM is also another one to take him to.
Keep up the good work, I find it’s the satisfaction of turning a heap of scrap, into something to display in a museum, self satisfaction I guess you would call it.
Jim.
Lincoln .7