FBHVC Announce New Support for Transport Museums
Published: 14/10/2020
The FBHVC has implemented a number of strategic changes within the organisation in order to best support the historic vehicle community in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst our commitment to supporting the community’s vehicle clubs remains stronger than ever, the FBHVC also recognises that transport Museums are a sector that is experiencing particular challenges during current times.
Transport Museums are a crucial part of the historic vehicle community and represent a rich, varied and essential network of venues up and down the country working hard to preserve and showcase artifacts, vehicles and archives from transport heritage.
In order to best support this vital community, the FBHVC has announced that the current Director for Archives, Andy Bye will expand his role to encompass a liaison role supporting Museums into the future.
Andy Bye has been on the FBHVC Board of Directors for the past year, working on developing club archives and supporting member clubs on best practice for their own collections. As that work has developed, it has become clear that there is a distinct relationship between Museum archives and those of the FBHVC vehicle clubs. Also, that there is much that can be done to bring the vehicle club and Museum sectors closer together for the aim of mutual support.
During his career, Andy worked for Chrysler, Talbot, Peugeot Talbot, Citroen and Peugeot and at his retirement was Quality Director for PSA Peugeot Citroen having worked with the group since 1979. Andy is also a Trustee of the Rootes Archive Centre Trust where he has been part of the team which has saved the archives from the old Rootes Group engineering department. Through fundraising, the trust went on to purchase their own freehold Archive building near Banbury.
Andy Bye explains, “Our vital Museums have been hard hit by COVID. Visitor numbers have been reduced due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. The installation of COVID safe infrastructure has been costly in some instances and also, as the average age of volunteers tends to be relatively high, many of the Museums have seen their workforce decreased as people are forced into self-isolation.
I am very much looking forward to being pro-active in supporting our Museums through this difficult time and using the influence we have as the FBHVC to ensure their plight is being understood at the very highest levels.”
Andy went on to say, “Museums are a vital part of preserving our past and sharing it with generations to come and it is vital we actively work with the sector to ensure its survival – I look forward to engaging with our many Museum members on this journey”
The initial aims of this work will include forming working groups to share ideas and resources. Furthermore, to open up the FBHVC audience to promote and create key events and initiatives for the benefit of all.
The FBHVC is committed to assisting in any way possible to aid the recovery of Transport Museums post-COVID.
The first step is an interactive map and directory of Transport Museums nationwide has been launched via the FBHVC website at: https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/museums-and-archives.
If you are a museum who wishes to join our support network, then contact Andy Bye to register your interest via Emma Balaam at secretary@fbhvc.co.uk.
