Meet the Team: Social Media and Audio Whizz!

 

During this time of isolation and social distancing, relying on digital technology to communicate has never been more important, and we wanted to help curb any loneliness and boredom with a series of blogs about our team. The team were asked a series of questions to answer so you can get to know them better. Next time you visit our museum in Tewkesbury, perhaps you’ll remember the name and the face of one of our staff members, helping you feel more connected to our property.

So without further ado, let us introduce to you…

 

 

1. Name 

Jo Durrant

 

2. What is your position at the John Moore Museum (JMM)? 

Volunteer (usually doing social media, making and editing videos and audio editing).

 

3. How long have you worked/volunteered at the museum?

Since summer 2012, so almost 9 years.

 

4. What is your favourite thing about working (or best memory) at JMM? 

I love everything about volunteering at the Museum, but have really enjoyed making and editing videos for the You Tube channel, and also editing the oral history audio. I have two stand out memories – recording the audio guide for the Old Baptist Chapel where I have been immortalised as the medieval housewife, and an event back in July 2017 where I interviewed author Andrew Taylor which we filmed for the You Tube channel. This led to me doing lots of on stage and more recently virtual events in Gloucestershire and even in London! And being part of such a friendly team is also lovely, especially our social gatherings in normal times.

If you would like to watch Jo’s interview with Andrew Taylor, then please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFzMYwWe-D0

 

 

5. What is your favourite quote by John Moore?

“The mist clung close around the buildings, distorting, magnifying, making the familiar strange.” – From September Moon

 

6. What is your favourite object in the museum’s collection? 

I love all of the Merchant’s House if we can count that as an object as I am really interested in Tudor history, but if I have to choose something smaller I’d say the fox, as I love foxes and he has also made a guest appearance in several videos I made! I also love the fact that John Moore flew once with Amy Johnson – as shown in his pilot’s log book. I present my own arts and science podcast (Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe) and am looking forward to returning to the museum in 2021 to record some stories behind the objects for my podcast.

 

7. What do you do during the closed winter season? 

During the winter I would normally still be volunteering on Saturday afternoons, which is the only time the museum is usually open, so might be doing front of house and things behind the scenes. I spent the last winter the museum was open doing lots of editing of the oral history recordings, which was really enjoyable.

 

8. What is the most memorable museum moment you have experienced? (It doesn’t have to be from your museum) 

I think the first time I saw the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, back in January 2017, will stay with me forever. It’s such an iconic object and I remember meeting a friend there, and whenever I see that object I always think of that friend. I became a member of the British Museum in 2016, and I have enjoyed so many lovely trips there and I can’t wait for it to reopen so I can visit again.

 

9. Why did you decide to volunteer in the heritage sector? 

I decided to volunteer at the museum as I was keen to expand my skill set and have always had an interest in Tudor history, so I thought this would be an interesting place to share my love of history.

 

10. Is there a project or exhibition you would most like to create or see at the JMM in the future?

I would love the museum to hold a mini literary festival which I’d be delighted to host, to really explore the work of John Moore and his legacy. I’d also love to make more videos for the museum where I get to dress up (think budget Lucy Worsley!). And in terms of exhibitions I’d love to see one that in some way combined arts and science as that’s my big passion.