Museum Banner

Castle Combe Museum was invited by Anita Prior, an officer of Wiltshire County Council's Museum Service, to be included in the Museums and Galleries Month 2003 event taking place in May. Her proposal was for the creation of a colourful banner which would illustrate artifacts from the museum's collection together with local historical landmarks. The work would be undertaken by a local group, either adults or children, under the direction of an artist experienced in previous such projects.At a meeting of the museum's committee, it was agreed to take part in the event with a possibility of involving the children of the ByBrook Valley School. When Anita was informed of the decision to go ahead she contacted Bev Ball, head teacher at the school, who enthusiastically welcomed the idea of the banner, as it would complement the local history project with which the pupils of years 3 and 4 were presently involved. As curator of the museum, I had an initial meeting at the school to discuss the project with Bev and the teaching staff, and the following day the children involved had a day out in Castle Combe to note landmarks for possible inclusion on the banner.

On May 6 Anita, the artist Stuart Shotton, and myself, were at the school at 9 a.m. to start the first session in the morning with the children of year 3. By use of a Union Jack and other flags, Stuart very capably brought the subject of banners to life, Anita then explaining how the children would select and draw the items to be depicted on the banner. Now it was my turn to present a short local history lesson and also display some artifacts from the museum collection. Whereas Anita and Stuart were unfazed by facing the sea of attentive young faces, my tutorial skills were nervously tested to the limit. The children then set to work with coloured crayons, each one concentrating on a particular item or place to illustrate. After a short coffee break we repeated the performance with the pupils of year 4.

All the drawings were then collected and taken away by Stuart, who selected those most appropriate to be worked into the design of the banner.

On Sunday 2nd June, Councillor Mrs Jane Scott, Wiltshire County Council's cabinet member for education, unveiled the completed banner at the museum. Also present was Anita Prior, a number of the children together with their parents, and some of the museum's volunteer staff.

To be kept at the school, the vividly coloured banner displays a brilliant sun shining over a blue sky background, on which the Castle of Combe, the Town Bridge, the ByBrook and various other items of historical interest are superimposed.

This proved to be a most enjoyable and instructive project for all and the banner will become a part of the By Brook Valley School’s history.

Adrian Bishop