Corporate Vandalism

Marconi veterans who have equipped and maintained world-beating television cameras and broadcasting equipment made by the Chelmsford-based company have been given their marching orders by Chelmsford City Council.

The Council has told the volunteers they have just two weeks to quit their base at Sandford Mill, which houses Chelmsford Museum’s Industrial Collection, with orders to remove every item they have loaned.

The Council’s shock announcement will virtually remove the Industrial Collection of all of its priceless pioneering Marconi televisual artefacts and memorabilia and end popular hands-on open days for budding scientists.

A dozen or so former Marconi engineers equipped the museum eight years ago with rescued equipment which includes very early TV cameras and one that has provenance for filming the Coronation. It was a real labour of love.

Amongst the exhibits is a vintage and unique telecine unit, which transfers film footage onto TV format, rescued by volunteers from the scrap heap.

It also features the iconic Writtle Hut, home of the worlds first radio station. Known by its radio call sign of 2MT, (Two-Emma-Toc in the phonetic alphabet of the day), the station's success would lead directly to the formation of the BBC.

The Writtle Hut was recently featured by the BBC as part of the Great British Railway Journeys series, watch it here (starts at about 15 minutes).

Despite last minute meetings between the MVA and the council, volunteers have been told to retrieve the exhibits and remove them from the site.

While the council claim that the decision is required to enforce the strict criteria of renewing its Accreditation with Arts Council England, it show the council’s shocking lack of commitment to preserving the heritage of the Marconi company and the city.

This decision comes just over a year after Chelmsford Council ran a series of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the iconic first live broadcast by Dame Nellie Melba.

Some veterans are suggesting that it’s is all part ‘stealth’ tactic to develop the site as part of the proposed housing estates on farmland flanking the river valley. “Stealth tactics”, now that has a familiar ring about it !

This is the second major blow to the Marconi Veterans, who were last year forced to move their annual reunion from the Hamptons to a new venue.

Please support the Marconi Veterans

It’s important that you let your ward councillors how you feel about this issue, and demand the council reconsider. Find your councillor here.

The council have today posted a formal response on Facebook, read it here.