Keeping Mum

Volunteers spring forth from the most diverse source. A couple of volunteers, who are painstakingly caring for several pipe banners in the collection, are mothers of museum professionals. They were keen to volunteer in a museum in their local area, and have more in common than a love of needlework.

Loretta Whitcomb and Anne Halford-Macleod finished restoring their first pipe banner after a year's hard work in 2009. Work has now begun on the two pipe banners below.

The pipe banner of Captain RSS Maxwell. The Maxwell banner has had some rough conservation work done in the past. This is envident on the top left corner in particular - you can see where another layer of silk has been added, with the original banner attached to it. However, the silk is so degraded that these measures are now doing little to stop further decay.

Detail of Maxwell banner showing evidence of previous conservation work done.

The pipe banner of General AH Marindin. The lower portion of the silk is in ribbons. Before being removed from display two years ago the silk was - literally - falling off. The entire obverse side is extremely faded - originally thebluewould have been a deep Royal blue.

Detail of Marindin banner showing part of the extensive damage to the lower portion.