Bridget Guest retires next month as general manager at Kendal’s Quaker Tapestry Museum, after a 27-year career at one of Cumbria’s smallest and most successful museums.
The Quaker Tapestry Museum opened its doors in April 1994, the year Bridget joined. Since then, it has welcomed over 360,000 visitors.
Today the museum is looked after by a small staff team, trustees and a band of volunteers, and comprises exhibitions, a shop, office space and rooms that can be hired out.
The Grade II* listed building is a lively centre of education and welcome for the community and a continued place of peace and worship says Bridget.
One of Bridget’s first tasks was to find a way for the charity to meet its ambition to share the secrets of the unique stitches and techniques used to create the 77 tapestry panels it houses. The solutions, said Bridget, were workshops and demonstrations.
It was also Bridget’s idea to take the tapestry to people around the country, with the first two travelling exhibitions taking place in 1999. Since then, there have been 30 roadshows with a welcome reception that’s included comedian Victoria Wood, actress Sheila Hancock, scientist Mary Archer, and antiques expert Henry Sandon.
And Bridget is quick to credit her partner of 40 years in supporting her in her job.
She said: “I may have been the roadshow organiser, manager and on-site embroiderer but Roy produced the designs for each of the roadshow layouts plus the muscle to unpack the van and put up the display. And then he would volunteer as our on-tour shop assistant. It was most definitely a two-person task, supported by a wider team and masses of help from volunteers to make them a success.”
The start of the millennium saw Bridget led her team to further achievement. The museum gained official status, plus local, regional and national tourism awards for excellence. And Bridget received the Wainwright Achievement Award from the Mayor of Kendal for promoting the town.
Under Bridget’s tenure there have been many improvements to buildings and onsite facilities, preceded by much fundraising. In 2002 the old warden’s cottage was redeveloped into volunteer accommodation and a cottage was converted into a café. Bridget’s partner Roy, a former joiner and architectural technician was hands-on in the design, planning process and its conversion.
Proof of the vocational nature of her role, Bridget says she and Roy were delighted to perform a song they wrote together for BBC Songs of Praise – celebrating the 350th anniversary of Quakers – and inspired by the amazing people and heart-felt stories of the tapestry.
Other career highlights for Bridget include the privilege of taking the stitches and techniques to Quakers in Australia so they could create 40 panels of their own history. Roy has helped Bridget design a panel from Kendal that will be winging its way to Australia before the end of the year.
Bridget has continued to introduce modern technology and up to date conservation techniques and interpretation material. In 2013 Bridget and her team of conservation volunteers celebrated the completion of a three-year project to remount and frame all 77 embroideries.
And, with volunteer expertise, imaginative temporary displays have been produced to create new interest.
The staff team has also developed a new and improved website, mail order and online presence and risen to the challenge of making the museum welcome during a pandemic.
It’s the creative part of her job that Bridget has particularly enjoyed including designing the embroidery kits. “It gives people the skills to go on and create their own projects,” she adds. The workshops have led to other income raising products like Bridget’s invaluable stitch guide book and beautiful greetings cards.
Bridget’s vocational calling is still strong. Although stepping down as general manager she will continue with her very first task which is to teach the six Quaker Tapestry stitches at the museum workshops and to carry on designing embroidery kits.
Reflecting on her time at the museum Bridget said: “It has always been about a team effort and during my career, Roy, has been by my side with endless patience, love and support and volunteering in all sorts of ways.
“The hard work and dedication of many people, past and present, has resulted in a wonderful museum for the local community, schools and visitors. Museums help make somewhere a great place to live and visit and we think ours does too.”
