The diary of a national museum director
The defence cuts got me thinking. We at the Museum of British History could organise an exhibition to tour England and the three provincial countries as a celebration of the role of the armed forces on campaigns at home over the centuries. I even came up with a title: Forging a Nation.
We would need loans – we haven’t actually got any objects yet so where better to start than Scotland? I met a curator from one of Scotland’s leading museums in the cafe.
I had tea and she had a triple espresso. As we chatted I explained (borrowing from Neil) that we are all “Museums of Britain” now.
The show would start with Edward I’s campaign in Wales, then follow Cromwell’s army in Ireland, go on to the ’15 and ’45 in Scotland, the battle of Peterloo in Manchester in 1819, then the general strike of ’26 ending with the miners’ strike in 1984. Really, without the British Army there would be no Britain.
My host began to wriggle in her seat. Sensing her excitement, I thought it a good time to ask if we could borrow the sword carried by the Duke of Cumberland at his victory at Culloden. But by then she had gone a peculiar colour. “Victory?” she asked. “Did you say victory?” She stood up and I politely did the same.
Then she put her face next to mine and whispered a question into my ear: “Have you ever heard of the Glasgow kiss?” I was forced to confess I hadn’t come across this particular local phrase. She explained, and added: “If you aren’t out of here in 30 seconds I’ll give you the full Glasgow love act, and I’ll be using the Duke of Cumberland’s sword.”
Really, that woman should drink less coffee.