Shining the spotlight on the volunteers at Hereford's Waterworks Museum
24 March 2023
Welsh Water sponsors the Waterworks Museum in Hereford which houses many historic engines, pumps, and other old artefacts that were used to serve customers between 1851 and the mid-1900s. Many of these were donated by Welsh Water.
The Museum is a registered charity. It opened in 1974 as an independent museum and it is solely managed and operated by volunteers. This week we’re shining the spotlight on the teams that make Welsh Water special. We are highlighting an incredibly special team of volunteers and past volunteers (including several former Welsh Water employees) who received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022 for their contribution to the services at the Museum over the last 46 years.
Today, we speak to Trustee, Richard Curtis, who was Company Secretary of Welsh Water between 1997 and 2012, and a former volunteer Director of the Museum and Chair of Trustees.
Can you tell us more about your involvement at the Waterworks Museum?
I became Welsh Water’s representative on the Museum’s Council of Management in 2007 and held this role until I retired in 2012. I then became a volunteer Director of the Museum and I was Chair of Trustees from 2016 until early 2022.
What does an average day in the role of a museum volunteer involve?
There are so many volunteer opportunities at the Museum so there isn’t an average day. We have volunteer roles for engineers, stewards, hospitality and catering at the visitor centre and café. There are behind the scenes volunteers in administration, finance and digital marketing - much of which can be done offsite.
Some volunteers spend an entire day with us, others spend a few hours. We appreciate and understand the commitments and time that people give to ensure the smooth running of the Museum so are completely flexible in our approach to volunteer time.
What could a visitor expect to find at the museum?
We open to the public every Tuesday between 11am and 4pm and have Steam Sunday events during the year.
On Tuesdays you can enjoy the Heritage Water Park with its hands on play and learn zone, visit our WWII exhibition, and our lovely onsite café. You can see all our engines and our enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers will take the time to talk to you about the pumps, engines and artefacts display. There are also trails and activities for children with under 16s admitted free.
Steam Sundays are even more exciting and give a more in-depth experience taking you back in history to Victorian times. The engines will be in operation, and you can experience the amazing sights, sounds and smells of a working Victorian water pumping station. It’s an experience not to be missed.
We have our first Steam Sunday event this weekend on 26th March (11am – 4pm). There will be working stationary engines from the Hereford and District Preservation Society on show on the Museum forecourt and a display by volunteers from the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust in our visitor centre. Visitors will also see the UK’s oldest working triple-expansion steam engine in operation, as well as historic beam, gas and diesel engines spanning the industrial revolution to present day. Our volunteer engineers are on hand to tell you all about it. For our younger visitors there is a frog trail, a firefighting trail and story of water quizzes. There is lots more for a great family day out with information on our website.
Can you explain why this museum is so important to the volunteers and the local community?
We are helping to preserve a site of important industrial heritage whilst supporting the local community. We describe the Waterworks Museum as a ‘community of volunteers’ - and it’s just that. The health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering are well known, and these exist in abundance at the Museum. People come here and make new friends, learn new skills and engage with the wider community, spreading the knowledge learned and educating our community about our Water history.
We work with Welsh Water in providing a free education service for Herefordshire’s schools. We are an active part of the Broomy Hill community, hosting events in our visitor centre. We have a strong relationship of mutual support with our neighbours, Hereford’s Model Railway and Hinton FC, who were the main sponsors for our Queens Award for Volunteers.
Finally, do you have a favourite artifact at the museum?
Every visitor looks in awe at the 1895 Triple Expansion Steam Engine, which stands two storeys tall. My personal favourite is the 1876 National Gas Engine from Ross on Wye. When it is in operation it has such a smooth, rhythmic, sound – we often say, we should record it for sale as an aid for sleeplessness!
You can find out much more about the Waterworks Museum here or on Facebook & Twitter: @WaterworkMuseum.
If anyone is interested in volunteering or want more information about our collection or on future events and attractions they should contact us on info@waterworksmuseum.org.uk