"DREAM JOB" FOR NEW EDUCATION OFFICER

SINGLETON, WEST SUSSEX

 New Head of Education Diane Walker is in her "dream job" at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, West Sussex.

As an early medieval archaeologist with buildings as a primary interest, Diane will be in her element among the 45 historic buildings saved from destruction and preserved for future generations at the Weald & Downland, England’s leading museum of buildings.

"I have had my eye on this job for some time," she reveals, "and it’s wonderful to be here. My task will be to take the buildings as objects and put them into their human contexts to bring them to life for children."

Diane Walker, who lives at Cosham, Portsmouth and previously ran the education department at the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, said she would be building on "the excellent work" already achieved at the Museum, which nestles on a beautiful 50-acre site in the South Downs, north of Chichester. "What has been done here is a model of good practice," she says, adding that a primary task will be to increase the use of the Museum by children with learning difficulties.

As well as the Museum, Diane’s job includes the education brief for the West Sussex Countryside Studies Trust based at Goodwood, where she will be working with children on a range of subjects including modern farming and forestry and environmental conservation. She will also work with the Edward James Foundation at West Dean on projects connected with their historic gardens. Her post is supported by West Sussex County Council.

Diane, who undertook postgraduate research in early medieval ecclesiastical architecture, studied history and archaeology at Bangor University, North Wales, before working for English Heritage as an illustrator in Portsmouth and a secondment to the archaeological excavation of the Rose Theatre in London. After a period as a freelance illustrator and a school special needs assistant she worked as education officer for the Hampshire Buildings Conservation Trust, before joining the Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson, a branch of the oldest museum in the world.

Diane’s tasks at the Weald & Downland Museum will include developing a new hands-on exhibition on buildings for very young children, and new family-based learning projects to enhance the daily museum experience for visitors.

At the Museum - designated by the Government for its outstanding collections - Diane joins a small team of professional staff and an enthusiastic army of volunteers, including specialist education volunteers who play a vital role in delivering the Museum’s educational objectives. Specialist workshops and tailored class visits which meet the criteria of the National Curriculum are a core part of the Museum’s education programme and Diane will have regular contact with teachers from throughout the region to develop it further.

Museum Director Chris Zeuner said: "Education is at the heart of all that we do at the Museum and we very much look forward to working with Diane in serving the 30,000 school children we attract to the Museum each year, as well as all those who visit with their families."

The Museum is open daily from 10.30 am - 6.00 pm and for school visits booked through the Museum office. For further information contact 01243 811363, email marketing@wealddown.co.uk, or visit the Museum’s website on www.wealddown.co.uk.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits from town and country. It was recently Designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Visitors can discover the medieval farmstead, the working watermill producing stoneground flour, the 16^th century market hall, a delightful pair of 19^th century whitewashed cottages, the fascinating hands-on exhibition about traditional building techniques, historic gardens and farm livestock.

In addition to the buildings the Museum takes a special interest in nurturing rural skills and countryside crafts, growing thatching straw, producing hazel spars for thatching, milling flour, maintaining coppice woodland and marketing underwood products.

Delicious food is provided by the café next to the millpond and there is a well-stocked museum shop where you can browse books on countryside and buildings themes. Find out more about the Museum by visiting our website on www.wealddown.co.uk.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Photographers are welcome at the Museum on both days. For further information please contact marketing officer Gail Kittle at the Museum
Tel: 01243 811363
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: marketing@wealddown.co.uk.