January began as it does every year for Bryony and I, with a spot of cleaning. Like many museums, historic sites and heritage organisations, we take the opportunity while closed to the public to do a deep clean, but this year we set ourselves an extra challenge.
Our impressive trophy case was in need of a thorough clean, and while we had the equipment for working at height (hello new lights!), we decided to take it on. Within a week we deinstalled, cleaned and reinstalled the display case and the silver trophies that it contains.
There are some very special trophies in there and being able to spend some time getting more acquainted with them was one of the best parts of this project. As well as cleaning them, we were able to make sure their records were as complete as possible, do a condition check (so we can monitor any changes) and update their locations. We had some help in this from our volunteer Bexie which enabled us to get through 31 trophies in all.
One of the most beautiful and intricate trophies I got to clean was the Daily Express Sports Car Trophy for the Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone on 18 July 1953 (AMHT-2018-1139). Won by Reg Parnell in DB3S/4, it has a range of engraving styles and from its hallmarks we know that it was originally made in Sheffield in 1926 by Mappin & Webb, a company that still operates throughout the UK today.
Another which caught my eye was this finely decorated car badge for participants in the Royal Scottish Automobile Club Rally in 1932 (AMHT-2009-914). I was intrigued by the words ‘Gang Warily’ on the bottom half of the badge. Wondering if it was similar to the North Eastern saying ‘Gan Canny’, I did a bit of digging. While the literal translation of ‘Gang Warily’ is ‘Go Carefully’, it was interesting to find a connection to the Drummond Clan from the Highlands of Scotland. Their clan crest bears this phrase and there are also links to the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. The stories you can uncover from seemingly simple things is one of my favourite parts of working with objects. There is always so much to discover.
The new lights that were installed have made a big difference to the space, enhancing our varied displays. Refreshed lighting in the trophy case itself now captures and spotlights the silverware too!
After achieving all of this in a week, alongside lots of heavy lifting, detailed work and contorting ourselves into different spaces, we’ve sashayed our way into the new year with a sparkly, 2025 ready museum.
Full credit to Bryony whose pun is the title of this month’s blog, and for the amazing job she did on cleaning the trophy cabinet inside and out!
