Duke does the honours at Glass Museum
Formal opening of venue to house world-famous collection
IT was a very special day for all concerned at Stourbridge Glass Museum when the Duke of Gloucester, cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, formally opened the museum after 12 years of fundraising by the charity Trustees of British Glass Foundation to find a new home for the world renowned Stourbridge Glass collection after it was put into storage following the closure of Broadfield House Glass Museum.
A derelict site has been transformed into a multi-million pound, world class glass museum. Guests at the opening included Will Farmer and Eric Knowles, well-known experts from the BBC’S Antiques Roadshow, Bob Warman formerly of ITV Central News; Ian and Brian Harrabin, Directors of Complex Development Projects Limited, who were the developers of the whole site; and Larry Priest and Dean Shaw of BPN Architects.
Accompanied by The Lordlieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, and the High Sheriff for the West Midlands, Wade C Lyn, the Duke of Gloucester was introduced to Barbara Beadman MBE immediate Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers of London and formerly Chairman of Friends of Broadfield House Glass Museum; as well as Alexander Goodger, manager of the museum and Graham Knowles, chairman of the British
Glass Foundation. Graham invited the Duke to sign a glass plaque donated and specially made for the occasion by Allister Malcolm, the museum’s resident glass artist, and engraved by Terri Colledge, resident cameo glass engraver. The Duke then spent time with Allister Malcolm in the hot glass studio where he was told gas prices have increased from £12,000 per year to more than £80,000. Paul Cameron and Christian Dunn of Interpower Europe who were also present are now in the process of changing over the gas furnace and lehr (which allows the glass to cool gradually) to electric ones. The last glass blowing using the gas furnace was actually on the day of the visit and it was switched off when the Duke left, ready to be dismantled to make way for the new equipment.
The Duke then unveiled the glass plaque he had signed on arrival and was presented with a small glass memento of his visit by Graham Knowles.
Graham said the day had been a wonderful opportunity to showcase what had been achieved at the museum, and observed that the Duke was very knowledgeable and genuinely interested in the displays.
The Duke then left for a visit to Dudley’s Council House, the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley, and the Black Country Living Museum, of which he is patron.
The Duke learned that gas prices have risen from £12,000 to more than £80,000 at the museum