If you know the song, spoiler alert, I’m not going to be tap dancing on a bar like Fred Astaire. Instead, it’s one more Collections Corner blog from me before I hit the road.
As it’s my last blog, and my last day, I thought I’d take an indulgent moment to reflect on my four and a half years at the Trust.
It has been a whirlwind and a huge privilege to work at AMHT, and to have contributed to the care of such an amazing collection. If you’re on the website and are reading this then you might have an idea of the gems we look after; from cars to photographs, racing overalls to a DB5 shaped soap bar (quite possibly my favourite thing to come in, in my time here!). If you’re not, try out our Online Collection and see what you can find.
There have been some huge milestones that we’ve hit for the collection, from bringing in regular temporary exhibitions – come and see Ad-Vantage, Aston Martin if you haven’t already! – updating our Collections Management System, and doing so much work towards our first ever Accreditation submission (due in a few weeks!). There wouldn’t be space to list everything and I’ve mentioned Spectrum more times than I care to count in these blogs, but it really has been so satisfying to bring all these procedures in and see the difference made to the management of the collection.
There have also been some brilliant events that it has been a joy to be a part of and to meet people at. From our own AMHT events – our Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture and the Festival – to riding in a David Brown tractor at an AMOC Concours, driving Aston Martins at HWM, and doing a lap of Silverstone as part of AML’s 110 Iconic Years event.
I have been lucky to work with and meet some wonderful people (we were nominated at Octane’s Historic Motoring Awards for Team of Year, don’t you know) as well as some well-known figures from the Aston Martin community. One of my absolute highlights was spending some time with Robin Hamilton when he donated his Nimrod related material to the Trust. The Muncher remains one of my favourite cars.
As you can tell, and the team can attest, I love a selfie. Plenty have featured in these blogs but this is because there have been so many moments and memories to capture, and so there is plenty to look back on and smile about. Hopefully someone else will pick up the selfie-taking mantle…!
When I first started, one of our Trustees welcomed me to the Aston Martin family, and how accurate that was. I have gotten to know and work with some brilliant people and have laughed so much.
So, to quote Fred again, I hope you didn’t mind my bending your ear. Before I start digging out any more selfies, I think it is definitely now time to hit the road…
