Clare Lyall

Experience

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  The Commandery Museum, Worcester

  Sept 1991 - Mar 1998

  Publicity Officer

  I started life as an interpretation guide for a building which had a 1,000 years of history. Lots of contact with the public and swiftly discovering what worked in terms of interpretation and what didn't. The Publicity Officer's post was established to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the English Civil War. Worcester had played a significant role in this and the Commandery had been Charles II's Royalist HQ. I put together a marketing strategy, publicity material and worked with local and national media. In addition I devised a programme of Special Events and holiday activities.After the anniversary was over my remit encompassed Education and I devised an education programme, including curriculum related workshops and when I left we were attracting 15,000 school children per annum from across the Midlands. Show less

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  Erasmus Darwin Centre

  Jul 1998 - Jun 2000

  Development Manager

  I was chosen to head up a new HLF funded project which was dedicated to Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus. He was a true polymath and devised a theory of evolution but the world was not yet ready to receive such advanced thinking.I managed an eighteenth century grade II listed property and had to recruit staff and volunteers, care for a collection, be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Centre, market and publicise the Centre and devise an events programme as well as obtain funding for the project.I devised an eighteenth century Festival which involved working with the Cathedral and Dr Johnson's birthplace. In addition I was part of an organisation that sought to promote Lichfield as a tourist destination.It was a great place and I worked with some lovely people. Also one of the most beautiful locations in the country. Show less

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  Trowbridge Museum

  Jul 2000 - now

  I am currently working on an £2.6 million expansion project to re-develop and reinterpret Trowbridge Museum within Home Mill, the town's last working woollen cloth mill.I secured a Round 1 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2015 and I recently completed our Development Phase within our £100,000 budget.I submitted our Round 2 application in May 2017 so Onwards and Upwards...I am still responsible for Trowbridge Museum, a former working woollen cloth mill building. This fantastic Museum tells the story of Trowbridge's involvement in West of England cloth production. At one time in the nineteenth century its population was bigger than Leeds and the scale of its production led to it being known as the Manchester of the West. The cloth it produced here was high quality and clothed Queen Mary, Prince George, Duke of Kent and Edward the VIII. It also supplied some of the top designers in the swinging sixties including Mary Quant. Our other claim to fame is a very rare Spinning Jenny. Show less

  • Curator and Head of Service Cultural and Neighbourhoods

    May 2018 - now

  • Museum expansion Director

    Jan 2016 - now

  • Museum Curator

    Jul 2000 - now