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Post Info TOPIC: The Royal Artillery Museum "Firepower" to leave Woolwich/London
Ralph Lovett


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The Royal Artillery Museum "Firepower" to leave Woolwich/London
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Yesterday, I was told by a staff member at Firepower (Royal Artillery Museum) that their buildings have been sold and that they are set to leave London by 2016. It is unclear where the collection will go and if the staff is to be retained. This conversation was punctuated by several articles (see links below)
To me it is amazing and terrible that this would happen to a museum that has such a fantastic collection of WW1 era artillery just as the WW1 Centennial is occurring.
My hope is that a way is found to maintain the pieces as much as possible and keep them in a setting that allows those of us with an interest to see and study them.

http://www.greenwichconservatives.com/news/1624

http://www.greenwichconservatives.com/news/1631

 

 

 



-- Edited by Ralph Lovett on Saturday 17th of May 2014 08:30:59 AM

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Roger Todd


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This is appalling. Ignorant vandalism. I accept that the museum is failing to meet its own visitor number target (though how arbitrary that target is we aren't told), but it is ludicrous to move a museum of artillery from an historic artillery manufacturing site which will then become a 'heritage/cultural quarter'. Quite apart from 'heritage/cultural quarter' being despicable local government wonk-speak of the most contemptible order, what could be more 'heritage' for Woolwich Arsenal than a bloody artillery museum?



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CharlieC


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I'd bet there's dirty money and property development involved. North Head in Sydney was closed due an unholy alliance between property developers and green groups.

The reported doublespeak from the local authority reminds me of corrupt local councils in Australia. The bottom line is "don't have a museum on valuable real estate - 

the developers will bribe and corrupt their way to get rid of it".

Regards,

Charlie



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Ironsides


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Weapons Museum?  Probably They'l develop it into a shopping maul........biggrin

 

A Heritage Museum is about preserving Heritage for future generations, Not about visitor numbers.... though I sure there is plenty they can do to develop that, providing of course that the will and financial backing is there in the first place... after all 50 millions pounds was spent turning the Cutty Sark into something that tourists might want to visit....confuse

 

Cheerswink






-- Edited by Ironsides on Saturday 17th of May 2014 09:22:23 AM

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Massimo Foti


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Good to know. I never visited the place, it was on my list, now I raised its priority.

Massimo

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GWTMoore


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Appalling news........but I'm afraid not unexpected......when a government cannot afford to send its troops properly equipped......and then to reduce numbers to a ludicrous level...what hope then for "museums".

 

On my last visit, and I have been a regular visitor to the library.....I was told that this was a possibility.....in fact more than a possibility as all the staff were on notice.

 

My understanding was that there will be a Trust.....what that means is anyones guess.....but you can bet that it will be unavailable unless you pay a lot of money.....I would have hoped that the IWM would have taken over the library contents (HA HA HA).......but they are undergoing a massive refurbishment......extra shops and cafes I hear.....nothing about the exhibits though !!!!!!!!!!!

I am getting really tired the way our heritage is ignored and flogged off.......talk to the museum staff about the level of vandalism by previous personnel/MOD....wallahs.....that binned hundreds of plate photographs and manuals..........

Sorry guys I could go on.....but nothing will stop this current spate of vandalism......all political parties are not interested.....whatever hue, it would be nice to think that the money grabbing developers of this exclusive site would set asside some money to preserve the heritage........OOOOH, was that a pig I saw flying by my window.

 

George (very peeed off) Moore



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Rob


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What the?! This is horrible news!

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Ralph Lovett


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More articles and post about Firepower leaving Woolwich/London:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11147815.UPDATE__Woolwich_Firepower_Royal_Artillery_Museum__to_leave_by_2017____former_board_member_hits_out/

 http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/NEWS/11147815.UPDATE__Woolwich_Firepower_Royal_Artillery_Museum__to_leave_by_2017____former_board_member_hits_out/

https://www.facebook.com/FirepowerMuseum?filter=2

R/

Ralph Lovett

 

 

 

 



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Ralph Lovett
Tonys


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It is a great shame that the museum will have to relocate out of the Borough, although it is a bit of a schlep getting there. The last time I went, they were carrying out maintenance on the rail line, so the journey also involved bus trips as well - an absolute nightmare for a foreign visitor, especially when the train started going on a different route to that anticipated.
The idea that the museum has to make way for a "cultural precinct" is laughable; I suppose the local borough is run by the left-wing looney brigade who wouldn't know culture if it hit them in the face? Probably going to let tacky shops and twee coffee shops invade the place.
Surely with the running down of the Army size there's place for it somewhere in Woolwich?
I suppose it will go to an even more remote location like Duxford or Fort Nelson.
Bloody disgrace!!
Tony

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Pzkpfw-e


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Unless they build more display space at Duxford, it's not going there.

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Tonys


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Acres of space - get a grant from the Lottery to build a new shed alongside the existing.



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Ralph Lovett


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Another recent article about Firepower mentions a petition for the museum staying in Woolwich:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11240933.Petition_launched_against_Woolwich_Firepower_Royal_Artillery_Museum_closure/itzenship

 

The petition requires UK citizenship or residence.  This is the link to sign:

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/64840/signature/new

 

R/

Ralph



-- Edited by Ralph Lovett on Saturday 31st of May 2014 08:59:00 AM

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