Brooklands Museum – Why Volunteer?
Why I Volunteer – Peter Kearns
I have been a volunteer at Brooklands Museum for nearly a decade. Initially I just did one Saturday afternoon per fortnight, I now do much more. My first role was as a Steward. Stewards are the people you see in the exhibit areas, talking and listening to visitors and answering their questions. Now I do a much broader range of activities.
At first, all I brought to the role was an enthusiasm for, and fascination about, motoring and aviation. I had little in the way of knowledge and skills. That did not matter because I very soon learned a great deal. Some learning was through structured training by Brooklands, much was informal, through talking with other volunteers. I have always found other volunteers to be very generous in sharing their knowledge and skills. I have also learned a surprising amount from visitors.
On retiring, I had more time available and got involved in other activities, This included some basic work on historic aircraft. I learned how to safely strip and prepare an aircraft for re-painting, including how to avoid causing damage to the fabric and to myself. I have now started an Aviation Heritage Skills course, run and funded for volunteers by Brooklands, opening up a whole new area of knowledge and skills, in my ‘Third Age’!
My other roles have varied from car park marshalling on event days to providing Guided Tours for people ranging from aviation specialists, to a history society to a Women’s Institute group.
So why do I do it? I have found many benefits, including:
- Meeting new people with a massive range of interesting backgrounds.
- Retaining and interest and involvement with cars, motorcycles and aircraft.
- Getting huge amounts of appreciation and feedback from visitors of all ages.
- On retiring, keeping my brain alive through learning and developing new skills.
- Making some contribution to the education, information and entertainment that it is the mission of Brooklands Museum to provide to all types and ages of people.
- Helping to give people with special needs a fun day out.
- Being involved in a highly successful and award winning organisation.
This is just my view. Other volunteers do it for many different reasons and carry out many different roles, from library archiving to gardening. There is a role just for you.
You are welcome to call our Volunteer Manager, Sue Lewin for a chat about how you can get involved (contact details below).
I look forward to meeting you someday soon.
Peter Kearns, Volunteer, Brooklands Museum
16th May 2018.
Contact Volunteering at Brooklands Museum
Sue Lewin, Volunteer Manager
Please mention the All About Weybridge website
Telephone: 01932 857381, ext. 242
Brooklands Trust Members
Join the official support group for Brooklands Museum. That support is invaluable in helping to realise the Trust’s objectives & keep the Museum running, whilst offering many benefits to the Members, including free entry to the Museum.
