Helen Sinclair enjoyed a 30-year career in museums in north-east England, making an outstanding contribution in the fields of education and access. She came to the north-east to study archaeology and history at Durham University, where Helen became involved in the excavation of the twin monastic sites of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow.
When Jarrow Hall opened, as a site museum for the monastery and a visitor centre in 1974, she was appointed joint warden. As well as being involved with running the education centre and coffee bar, she developed a programme of temporary exhibitions. Helen left Jarrow to finish her PhD in Anglo Saxon Medicine Within Its Social Context, but soon returned to her chosen career.
This was in the post of project co-ordinator for the social history interpretation scheme at Shipley Art Gallery, part of Tyne & Wear County Council Museums. She organised exhibitions and activities for children and adults in central Gateshead – widening audiences was to be a continuing feature of Helen’s work in museums. Helen’s next move was to become the first education officer for the museums in Sunderland and South Shields, in 1982.
Her team provided a wide range of services to children, adults and educational and self-help groups. Helen had a particular in interest in involving groups with disabilities, and was involved with several projects that were recognised with awards.
In 1993, Helen became principle education officer for Tyne & Wear Museums, with responsibility for the staff-delivering programmes across 11 sites. She took the lead in preparing education and access policies. The latter looked at access in its widest sense and, not only led to training for all staff, but also to access being a major feature of several museum-building developments.
Both policies were recognised as good practice by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the access policy received national and international recognition. Helen’s final post was as education manager for the North East Regional Museums Hub from 2003-05.
In the wider museum world, Helen was president of Museums North, secretary of the Museums and Galleries Disability Association and a committee member of the Group for Education in Museums. Helen’s contribution to museums was summed up by a former colleague, who wrote after her death: “Her commitment to her team, to the cause of museum education and, in particular, to the provision for, and right of, people with disabilities was exemplary. There is no question that this legacy remains today.”
Following her retirement, Helen was active in community projects in Sunderland, but, sadly, suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.
Richard Kilburn was joint warden of Jarrow Hall and Neil Sinclair was Helen’s husband
