Opening Day!
July 10th 1pm. 2010. Well actually a little bit later due to being locked out!
Donald McGill's Grandson Patrick Tumber and Ryde's Town Crier Steve King .
The week prior to the opening we had two film crews (Meridian News and BBC Breakfast), journalists (Isle of Wight County Press & Hampshire News), and in addition to this several radio interviews, time had to be allocated for this, so it was not surprising that we were running a little behind with our completion plans! The evening before I was up till 3am mounting the reclaimed safety glass into the reclaimed display cases. Then having to wake at 6am on the opening day in order that a further mountain of tasks could be completed, consequently, it was only by the skin on my teeth that things were looking presentable....apart from myself - I was by now more knackered than the worst of Bill Stump's losing horses!
Bookie Bill Stumps and Donald's grandson in front of the museum's mirrored entrance.
Following the tradition of the unveiling of Donalds Blue Plaque for his London residence, where ladies underwear was draped on a line, which was then pulled back to reveal the plaque, we erected a washing line upon which we hung vintage Bloomers, Corset and a Brassier which Patrick Tumber happily agreed to cut (his mother would not have approved!).
However, we had a weird incident just after Patrick Tumbers opening speech.......A vicar stepped forward ( I had actually challenged him earlier as to why he was there, and he said he was a journalist for the Church times) he stated he was from the Diocese of Portsmouth and that they were not happy that the museum was opening and that he wanted all the attendees to leave immediately as way of protest...he then started babbling like a brook!
I then asked Jenny Kite our cafe manager, to call the police, she replied "Don't worry James I have already done that, but.............................. the only way to sort this out is to have a FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I agreed with Jenny, however I stated that before I attempted to knock his block off, I would offer odds at 2:1 that I could do it in five minutes....... Upon which the vicar bolted out of the door and into the street.
We were now ready to open the museum..................
However because I had changed into the newly made bookies suit, and the tailor had made no pockets (made on a tight budget as always!), we found ourselves locked out as my keys had been left in my work clothes at the back of the museum! In addition to this, Jenny's key was left at home and all the tools which might have forced the door open were in the workshops at the rear of the museum, so I then stated that while Donald was an atheist, I believed in a higher spiritual existence and beseeched the attendees to call on it to open the museum doors.... we tried again ........................................ but nothing happened, tried again, but nothing happened..............vainly, I banged at the door again, and resorted to ask for credit cards to try and open it - none were offered, worse than this my polite guests were now on the verge of becoming an angry mob and the main instigator appeared to be my elderly mother! Time stood still for what appeared to be an eternity, and eventually the door slowly clicked open.........................someone was on the other side.......the bolting vicar who is of course one of the museum curators!
A vicar saves the day! The right Rev Ian Sheridan.
The museum was now at long last open, albeit nearly a year overdue! Amongst the attendee's were some of the most knowledgeable and avid McGill collectors, their view of the museum was crucial - we are delighted to say that they, like Patrick Tumber, they are delighted with our efforts and whole heartedly have given their seal of approval on the museum and our effort to bring Donalds work to a wider audience.
Open at last! The ceiling, alone has over 2,500 of Donalds postcards adhered to it, in chronological order from 1904 -1963.
We were also delighted that Ryde's own Mayor, Mr Brian Harris also very kindly agreed to attended the opening, he gave a comical speech prior to Patrick's, and when open, fully immersed himself in the Museum, he actually stayed in the museum for over 3 hours! Clearly a big McGill fan.
Ryde's Mayor Brian Harris poses as Donald's IT Girl in our 3 dimensional version of Constance card number 1004.
