In the Fast Lane
By Jack Welch, Volunteer Press Officer
 |
Edward and Jenny pose with the
cheque. |
 |
Lee, our kart designer,
stands near our
new fixture. Zoom! |
After the weekend we braced ourselves for an action packed week ahead. First task however was to welcome the staff from Clay Pigeon Kart Club where Jenson Button learnt his trade. Our static kart with a video screen is the most interactive part of the exhibition. It was fascinating to see the pace at which Lee and his colleague put the kart together so quickly. Before anybody had a chance to sit down, the fundraisers who supported our project arrived and presented the princely sum of £600.00 for all the technological wizardry on the exhibition floor.
 |
Lee and Jenny
question Leslie
Philips. |
As Jack was left to blog for the remainder of the morning, the rest of the group set about the tasks of label writing and attaching numbers to our timeline on the wall. This was a very difficult operation and was left in the capable hands of Lee and museum technician, Ken, as they had to accurately measure the positions of each number on the wall. Liz and Rosie got underway with filling in the necessary deposit forms for the borrowed museum objects that will be displayed in the glass cabinets. We think we have managed to tell the story of linked events and the stories behind the objects. Meanwhile, Lorna welcomed Susan Blake as she dropped off some of her photographs of her days as a youth club leader, but just where all these interesting materials were going to go was very much undecided. After a much needed tea break, it was onto a busy afternoon where the group were finally able to assemble the first glimpses of just what our exhibition will look like!
 |
Izzy and Charlotte cast their eyes
to the cabinet features. |
As the group's second stint began, Edward and Ashley were now able to test for the first time how the video clips will look, as well as ensuring their LED functions from the previous week could interact with the screen in front of it. Just how the TV will look above the wall remains to be seen and just how it will work with our Go-Kart will promise some very challenging (and noisy) times ahead. The production of labels also continued, as four of the volunteers (Douglas, Ashley, Rosie and Jack) were taken on a very entertaining exploration of other museum exhibits by a volunteer tour guide. It was exciting to imagine how this exhibition will look in comparison to adjoining rooms. Jenny and Lee then received another visit from four time ex Dorchester mayor Leslie Phillips. He allowed us to display his MBE which he received for volunteer work, including his work for Dorchester youth club over four decades. He also gave us a specially made mayor broach to put on display. Saying why he has supported young people for 46 years, he commented "Helping the young people in Dorchester has been very important to me".
