It has been quiet for a little while now and it has been a couple months or so since my last blog. That was partly due to the fact that when I left you last time I was bunkered down in a box with Archie, waiting for the dust to settle before we sneaked out of the repository. Word had got around that we had been spotted. Unfortunately the box lid got stuck and it needed a lot of shoving to make enough space to escape. I will spare you the detail but suffice to say that I eventually ended up back where I started, of the appropriate size, pretending nothing had happened and with my usual air of innocence.
I did mention in my previous blog that joining the Friends had been far from dull, and that at this rate I might even be invited to be chairman. Well, at our AGM last Tuesday (13 June) that is exactly what happened! It is an honour and a privilege to take up the role and help to steer and guide the development of the Friends so we have greater capacity to broaden our support for The National Archives in a number of different ways, not just being a source of funds. Clearly, as Chairman it would now be entirely inappropriate for me to continue my adventures with Archie. However, it may be something that Eileen Wicks, our newly appointed Vice Chairman, could take up – I can only but ask….
The idea of Archie as a mascot for the Education Team has proved to be a great success. He has become very popular with the younger children and those with special educational needs. This is an example of some of the more practical things that we can do to help extend our support for our colleagues at The National Archives and that raises our profile across the organisation. We are here to make a difference and will only be constrained by the limits of our imagination.
I have set myself three objectives to achieve during my tenure as Chairman:
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- Reform: To continue the revision and revitalisation of all aspects of our governance with clearly defined policies and working practices set within an effective constitutional framework.
- Higher profile: To raise the profile of the Friends across The National Archives and also the wider archive sector. The rise in profile is to be accompanied by a significant growth in membership.
- Fundraising: To develop and extend our capability and capacity to accrue and deliver more funds to projects.
There are two points of particular interest that arise for me from these objectives. Firstly, I am keen to increase our membership beyond London and South-East and also find ways to better serve those in more far-flung places who cannot visit Kew on a regular basis. Our refurbished website may be part of the answer so I would welcome all ideas and suggestions.
Secondly, following some helpful comments and suggestions raised at the recent AGM, I would like to create a scheme that will enable people to leave a legacy to the Friends. Although we provide practical support through a range of activities, funding projects and events remains the core part of our support for The National Archives. The greater our financial capability the greater will be our capacity to increase our support across a wider range of activities.
I sense that we are in interesting times and at an important juncture with many changes taking place at The National Archives, set within the context of their HLF bid which has recently been rejected. I look forward to working with colleagues as we seek new opportunities to consolidate and expand the role of the Friends. It seems very much a case of watch this space.