Manager & Curator Maya Hirschman talks up the Museum in this week's "Our London"

In case you missed the story in this week's Our London, reporter Whitney South spent some time visiting the Museum and interviewing Manager and Curator, Maya Hirschman.  You can read the full article online.

“ Imagine helping to save the world — and having to keep it a secret for 50 years.

But more than a story in an old spy novel, this was reality for thousands of men and women working behind the scenes during the Second World War. Groups of radar mechanics and operators, physicists and researchers, working to protect soldiers abroad, all in complete secrecy.

These days, their stories live on at the Secrets of Radar Museum, here in London.

For curator Maya Hirschman, nothing is more important than getting the chance to share those stories with a new generation.

“These were Canadian men and women, from all walks of life, who never expected to end up doing top secret work,” she explained. “Like spies and codebreakers, they promised their silence, and their reward was that the official history completely forgot about them.” ”

— http://www.ourlondon.ca/news-story/6227398-opening-the-doors-on-war-s-best-kept-secrets/

Autumn 2015 Volunteer of Note: Michelle Rosenblat

Michelle joined us in September through an internship program at Western University.  Very quickly she made herself at home and has become an integral part of the curatorial team.  Eager, dedicated, creative, and responsible, Michelle has continued work on an unfinished virtual exhibit initially researched and written by a previous intern. This includes editing segments of oral history from our archives, and sourcing photographs and artefacts. Her time with us has had her researching equipment necessary for the EMC Grant digitisation project, and digging through the collection for cool things to put on our Twitter.  In a pinch, she can even give a tour.  Michelle finishes with us in early December, but has promised to come back in January. 

Thanks for all you do, Michelle!

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

Come see our new arrival: H2X !

On Sunday, we welcomed the newest member of our tech family, a complete H2X airborne, ground-scanning radar set.  Rob and Linda Adams brought the unit to us from the Ottawa Radar Group, which organised its transfer from the private collection of David Barlow to us.  We have put the unit on display in our Technology Room, and expect to have a plaque produced, early in the new year, thanking the donor and those who made its delivery possible.  Click here to learn more about the H2X.  Thank you very much to the donor, Mr. Barlow, and to radar veterans Julien Olsen and Ken Shoultz for organising the transport of this unique piece of WW2 history.

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Rob and Linda Adams with the H2X.  Linda is the daughter of Ken Shoultz, WW2 radar veteran with the Ottawa Radar Group.

Remembrance Day

We here at SoRM never forget the sacrifices our veterans have made, but Remembrance Day is something very special.  On the 11th day of the 11th month, we see the men and women who served standing together and we can see the lines etched in the faces of those who served during World War Two. 

Radar was a new technology in 1939 and the men and women who worked with it were pioneers in the field.  There are fewer and fewer WW2 radar veterans with us each year.  If it wasn't fresh in our minds before, we lost a beloved member of our community, Ed Morgan, just on November 1st.  We are reminded that these people, not so different from me and you, led deep and meaningful lives, were brave in the face of adversity, and though now advanced in age, once they were strong and firm, vibrant members of their communities, both military and civilian.

Today, two different WW2 radar veterans visited us.  We were happy to host Hilda, a WAAF who served as a radar operator in England, her grand daughter and four great-grand sons.  John Tevlin, who came with his son, served his whole WW2 radar career with the night fighters.

We humbly thank Hilda and John for their service and wish them all the best, as we do for all veterans, old and young.

Hilda is surrounded by her family, attentively listening to one of our volunteers talking about wavelengths.  

Our volunteer and WW2 veteran Roy Taylor stands with another visiting radar veteran, John Tevlin. 

Anouncements !

We have some great news to share ! 

Firstly, congratulations go to Manager Maya on being a recipient of the 2013 London Community Foundation Vital People grant.  The grant provides $2000 to SoRM so that Maya can study Project Management at Western.  

Secondly, if you happen to be attending the OMA conference this week, Maya will be participating in a tech talk round-table tomorrow, and on Friday she will be presenting an Ignite session on museum engagement. 

Thirdly, on Friday, November 29th, the Physics & Astronomy building at Western will be celebrating its grand re-opening and we'll be there.  SoRM has been collaborating with the department to create some dynamic new wall content for the newly renovated building, and the first phase of the project will be unveiled at the event.  If you want to attend, please RSVP. 

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