Black Country Living Museum boost after classic cars donation and £500k backing - PICTURES and VIDEO
Five vintage cars alongside a donation of half a million pounds has been given to the Black Country Museum to boost its Forging Ahead project.
Philanthropist Alexander Patrick CBE, of the Patrick Foundation, visited the Tipton Road attraction with Dudley College principal Lowell Williams yesterday for a handover ceremony.
An annual donation of £30,000 for the next ten years will also be given to museum bosses to help with maintenance of the collection.
WATCH: Find out how the donation brings a boost to Black Country Living Museum. Video filmed by Tim Thursfield
The Black Country Living Museum also tweeted a video showing the cars in action
Speaking to the Express & Star, Mr Patrick said: “Many years ago I was a trustee of the development trust here and we had been looking at ways that we could associate with the museum.
“Then the opportunity came for us to get involved with the new 1940s-1960s development.
“The cars are all family cars and my father used to drive the Daimler SP250 and the little Austin we put the body on back in the 1930s, so they’re special. We have also made a considerable donation to enable the new project to go ahead.
“The figure is about £500,000 and the vehicles become the property of the museum.” The cars in the collection include a Daimler Majestic Major, Morris Minor Van, 1939 Alvis Speed 25, Daimler SP250 and 1933 Austin 10 Patrick Special. The Forging Ahead project is phase one of the museum’s 40-year master plan to create a world-class heritage attraction in the heart of the Black Country.
Costing around £21.7 million, the project will use real things, real people and real stories to engage.
The aim is inspire visitors of all ages to learn about the Black Country’s heritage, its impact on the world and its relevance today.
Mr Williams, , who is also chairman of the Black Country Living Museum Trust, added: “This is a fantastic day for the museum.
“To have a donation of this size from The Patrick Foundation fills us with confidence.
Check out all the vintage cars finding a new home at Black Country Living Museum. Pictures: Tim Thursfield
“We have a gap of £2 million that we need to fundraise for now.”
“This project is important to the Black Country in terms of heritage and there will be more visitors coming into Dudley.
“It will bring money into the economy, it protects the Black Country and in another sense it keeps us alive.”
For further information about the Forging Ahead project or how to get involved, go to bclm.com/forgingahead
