I received the following email from Blue Click at the end of March and thought it warranted full reproduction here. If you think you can help please do make contact – the details are at the foot of the item.
“The UK’s first Museum of Computing in Swindon, sponsored by Blue Click PR and Intel, is facing eviction after the University of Bath in Swindon withdraws from the Oakfield campus in July. With over 2,000 hardware exhibits (85% of which are in full working order), 2,500 software items and around 1,500 books, manuals, specialist magazines and sundry items, The Museum of Computing needs to find a new location in Swindon with 75m² of exhibition space, disabled access and 100m² of storage space. Preferably these would be adjoining premises.
The Museum (www.museum-of-computing.org.uk) is a jewel in the crown for Swindon, which, unlike other museums, costs the public nothing to run. It is a not-for-profit company run entirely by volunteers on a shoestring budget from donations. Yet, remarkably, the museum has an international reputation attracting visitors from over 45 countries. One gentleman even travelled all the way from Japan specifically to find out how it was set up and operated. The media even asks for permission to film old exhibits to support major IT industry product launches such as the Microsoft X-Box 360.
Last year, Intel confirmed a sponsorship programme that has enabled improvements to displays and an education outreach programme. One exhibition was featured in the Times Educational Supplement, and teachers and pupils are very enthusiastic about school visits. Indeed, the Independent newspaper lists the Museum as one of the top 50 museums in the UK that you should visit.
Exhibitions have gained global media coverage. The Museum hosted a whole episode of Click Online broadcast by BBC Worldwide to approximately 350 million viewers. CNN with 150 million visitors, SKY, Google, BBC Breakfast TV, local TV and radio stations have all covered events, as have national newspapers and trade magazines.
The vast collection has been described as 'very significant' and even the National Science Museum does not possess some of its rare, specialist items. Founder and local solicitor Jeremy Holt had long held a vision for this kind of museum in the town. He feels that the museum should ideally remain in Swindon, partly because of the enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteers, without whom it could not survive'
In 2003, Bletchley Park showcased the wartime code-breakers, the Bombe and Enigma machines before they were transported to America to go on show. The most popular exhibition was 'High Score' which covered the computer gaming industry from the very early years. It included an East German arcade machine, an incredibly rare object because it is the last of three surviving machines and the only one in working order. This attracted huge interest from web surfers via Google – some 14,500 of them in 48 hours!
'A History of Home Computers' showed the development of early machines such as Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Atari and Commodore, and Alan Sugar's famous Amstrad machines.
'Computers on the Move' showed how miniaturisation made mobile computing possible and tracked the development from ‘luggables’ to portables to laptops, right through to the 'smartphone'.
'Calculator' sponsored by Casio was kindly opened by Sir Clive Sinclair, one of the pioneers of the affordable pocket calculator. His limited edition, gold- plated 'Sinclair Sovereign' calculator won a Design Council award in 1977 and looks as smart as any contemporary iPod or mobile phone. It attracted international media coverage and Sir Clive Sinclair described the museum as 'fantastic and very important'.
The museum's current exhibition 'Pong to Playstation' focuses on the history of the home games console and is due to tour six other venues in the UK from April 2009.
As visitors take a trip down memory lane, frequent comments include 'I used to have one of those', or 'I always wanted one of them!'
During HRH The Duke of Kent's personal tour last year, he commented 'most interesting and exciting'. He was particularly interested in the Curta mechanical calculator, a device still in use by some people in rally motor racing circles today.
The most obvious potential new homes are not available but if you would like to suggest alternative locations, or can offer transport, physical help or funding to support the relocation, please contact Curator, Simon Webb at: info@museum-of-computing.org.uk or on +44 (0)7939 582544. Simon is coordinating the next move into the unknown and there will be an awful lot of boxes to shift!”
My thanks to Rhona Jack at Blue Click for bringing this appeal to DPA’s attention.
Les Hunt
Editor