The Helicopter Museum.

Press Release 13th April 2008

All Change at The Helicopter Museum

The Helicopter Museum (THM) at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, which holds the world’s largest dedicated collection of rotorcraft, has announced a forthcoming management restructure, following a request from the current Manager Ms Wendy Cowlin, to reduce her hours and the need to establish a new part-time post of Collections Officer to meet continuing growth.

With effect from the end of May, current Operations Manager Lee Mills will be promoted to General Manager, reporting to the Chairman and the Trustees and being responsible for the smooth running of the Museum, promotional activities etc. Wendy Cowlin will become Business Manager, working 3 days a week and with particular responsibility for the retail elements and administration support. Wendy will also retain responsibility for the Museum in Lee’s absence.

Chairman of THM Trustees, Elfan ap Rees, said “The Trustees especially want to thank Wendy for her quiet but valuable dedication to the Museum as Manager over the past 18 years and to recognise her enormous contribution to its success since she first joined us as a volunteer in 1988. Lee and Wendy already work as an excellent team and we are confident there will be a smooth transfer of authority over the coming weeks”.

Under the restructuring Heather Fowler will continue in the position of Education Officer, responsible for Education programmes and THM anticipate recruiting new dedicated Education Volunteers to assist with outreach work and school visits, subject to CRB checks.

The new post of Collection Officer will be advertised shortly and will be a three-day week position, coordinating and overseeing the maintenance and conservation of aircraft and related archival documentation in the collection to national standards as well as researching relevant grant aid opportunities.

THM has recently completed a new aircraft restoration hangar and is in the process of building a dedicated archival library with the support of Heritage lottery funding. This is due to be completed by the beginning of June, when the volunteers will begin the mammoth task of relocating a vast collection of stored documentation.