Thank you Volunteers and Staff!

On August 29th, we celebrated our marvellous Volunteers and Staff and were astounded by the amazing turn-out.  Sometimes we forget how many of us are invested in the life of this museum and it's important to recognise everyone who makes an impact.

Many thanks to the incomparable Brenna Ardiel, our phenomenal summer Museum Assistant and Interpreter, for planning and organising our first Volunteer and Staff Appreciation Luncheon. Thank you to everyone who helped out with the barbecues (Corbin and Don) and side dishes, to Kathy for assisting with the decorations, and to everyone who came out. Brenna's experience with us was made possible by Canada Summer Jobs in Heritage.

Many thanks to Evelyn Hayes, our Summer Experience Program student, who has worked on creating a new vision for our old exhibits. Next time you're in, check out her Teletype Machine display and activity.

We're delighted to announce our Summer Volunteer of Note is Sunny Kim, who has put in an enormous amount of time and effort into digging into the collection backlog.

Below are some photos from the event, courtesy of Kathy Kozell.

Spring Volunteer of Note: Bethany Hayward

Bethany helping out on Canada Day, 2014, in Harris Park, London, ON

Bethany has been with SORM for two years as our volunteer Collections Manager. With few exceptions, she devotes one day a week to the museum in which she puts order to chaos, inputs artefact and archival data into the collection database, and oversees the work of multiple young cataloguing assistants. You can often find her working the SORM booth at community events such as Canada Day in Harris Park, DoorsOpen London, and Remembrance Day.  Her background in archaeology and museum management make her a great asset to any museum and we felt strongly that her efforts should be rewarded with our inaugural Volunteer of Note award. 

Thank you, Bethany, for everything you do!

In Memorium: Roy Taylor, 1920-2015

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RoyTaylor (2013) stands in front of his 1940 enlistment group photo.

It is with a deep sadness that I post about the passing of yet another beloved veteran from the SoRM family.  Roy Taylor, in his 96th year, passed away last week as a result of a brief, but serious infection.  We last had Roy out to the museum for the LARC club station opening on May 18th and he was in fine form, smiling, looking good, and delighted to enjoy the museum, amateur radio, sunshine and barbecue. 

Roy has been an integral part of SORM since its beginnings and his presence is felt throughout the museum.  Although he hasn't volunteered with us since November 2013, his contribution continues to be felt.  Many of the stories we share as part of our regular tours come from his memoir, and they will live on a while longer in the travelling exhibition I'm currently developing.  With his passing, we have come to the end of an era.  Roy was the last local WW2 radar veteran to be involved with us, and while it's sad, it's also not really surprising. 

It was a great privilege to get to know Roy, his story, his gentlemanly character, and his smile.

~ Maya

Per Ardua Ad Astra ("Through Adversity To The  Stars": RCAF motto)

From Peter Garland, SoRM Past President and NORAD radar veteran:

“Roy was a gentleman, who brought the beginnings of radar to life for so many children and adults. Our museum was a big part of his life, and he served it well, preserving the story. We are all so lucky to have known him and to have witnessed his fascinating living history, the story of SORM.

”Track faded”, as the radar operators parlance has it.

To the Stars, Roy.”

A celebration of Roy's life will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Westview Baptist Church, 1000 Wonderland Road South, London.  As an expression of sympathy, the family has asked that donations may be made to The Secrets of Radar Museum, P.O. Box 24033, London, ON N6H 5C4 or Canadian Diabetes Association, 442 Adelaide Street N., London, ON N6B 3H8. 

Click here for Roy's official obituary.

LARC Opens its Club Station at SORM

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with the London Amateur Radio Club, who have opened up their club station at our museum.  VE3LS is on the air !  They are typically on-site Saturdays during our open hours, and they'll be running their autumn radio course in our lounge this coming autumn.  Stay tuned for news.  We celebrated their club's official opening on May 18th, at which many long-time SoRM friends and LARC members were treated to museum tours, sunshine, barbecue, and cake.  It was a great day.

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Corbin Lippert (foreground), SORM's London Amateur Radio Club representative on the Board, with friends in the 'Clinton Room' during the LARC grand opening event, May 18, 2015.

In Memorium

I would like to take this opportunity to note the passing of two of SORM's founding members.  On December 5, 2014, Edna Simpson passed away.  Edna came to Canada as a war bride having met Doug while they both worked on radar, serving in the RAF. In later years, she became very involved in the War Brides organisation and could be seen at events singing, “Till we meet again” with fellow war brides.  More recently, Horace "Red" Macaulay passed away on April 8, 2015.  Red had a Distinguished Military Service during World War II as a pioneer in radar training and maintenance at Mt Allison University, NB and overseas with the RAF and 406 Squadron of the RCAF. Post-war service in the military included many technical assignments with NORAD radar systems and with NATO as the Wing Telecommunications Officer at Zweibrucken, West Germany.  Both Edna and Red contributed significantly to SORM's permanent collection through artefact donations, photographs, reference material, and interviews.  Their presence will be sorely missed.

Secrets & Mysteries Summer Day Camp!

We're thrilled to announce that we'll be running Summer Day Camp in August, 2014!

Our camp has been developed to focus on science and nature, and highlighting the creative and experimental exploration of the world around us.  It is this same spirit of experimentation in early radio and television that led to the invention of radar prior to WWII, and which continued through the 20th century to become part of our daily lives.

We have two week-long sessions for your inquisitive kids, aged 10-14: August 4-8, and August 11-15, from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. 

More information>

Road Construction

Stock photo.  Not representative. 

There's a joke we tell in Canada:  we have two seasons-- winter and construction.  And so it goes.  Every year, here in London, beginning in mid-April and lasting through November, the city becomes mired in road work.  Sometimes road construction pops up with no warning and you have to find a new way to get to work.

Well, this year, we at the Secrets of Radar Museum get the equivalent of the backhoe parked at the end of the street.  As of today, May 5th, Western Counties Road, which is the main access used to enter the Westminster Ponds ESA where we're located, is closed for construction.  There is an alternate entrance to Parkwood Hospital and the Ponds (and therefore the Museum, as well) closer to Wellington off Commissioners.  There may also be an entrance off of Wellington, just north of the Tourism London office, but we recommend the alternate Commissioner's entrance.

From the City of London website:

WESTERN COUNTIES RD (PVT) between COMMISSIONERS RD E and HARMONY RD (PVT)
Start date:2014-05-05 6AM
End date:2014-07-31 5PM
Category:Private / Utility
Impact(s):Closed
Notes:Contractor will do own signage

427 Wing hosts Valentine's Dance & Family Day at Secrets of Radar

Looking for something a little different to do this weekend?  Our friends at the 427 Wing are hosting a Valentine's Dance on Saturday, February 15, 8P.M. to 12A.M. at the Wing, 2155 Crumlin Side Road, London, Ontario.  Contact Joan or Jack at jackjoanc (at) gmail (dot) com for tickets.

And, don't forget, this Monday, February 17, 10A.M.-4P.M., we're hosting our Family Day Open House out here at Secrets of Radar.  If you're planning to enjoy some outdoor winter fun in the Westminster Ponds, behind Parkwood Hospital, come in and warm up with us!  Coffee, "radar popcorn" and tours beginning at 10 o'clock.

Looking for something to do this Family Day?

Family Day Open House

Monday, February 17, 2014 from 10 am – 4 pm

London, ON - The Secrets of Radar Museum will be hosting a special Family Day Open House on Monday February 17, from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.

Taking advantage of the trails around Westminster Ponds this Family Day? Drop by the Secrets of Radar Museum and warm up with us. Hot refreshments and “radar popcorn” will be available for purchase as well as free tours of the museum’s permanent exhibits.