31/05/2026
Good morning all! Had to share this photo from long time museum supporter and freind George the Klingon! Thanks to the kindness of Visual Effects designer (and legend!!!) Mike Tucker- fans can see Broton at the Museum all year round....now accompanied by the Skarasen....he remains a highlight for many!!! What makes this all the more remarkable for me personally, was that I saw this costume in the mid 70s on one of my very few visits to the BBC Doctor Who Exhibitions. I need to position and light the Skarasen more effectively, but for now, at least they are reunited!
One of the good things about the Museum location is that the environment itself is extremely stable - constant temperature and humidity with no daylight and entirely zero-UV lighting. This has provided an ideal space for these pieces to be stored and displayed without incurring further deterioration loss. On top of this, the actual North Pennines climate helps too! The Northumberland hilltop environment is predominantly cool - another plus for longevity.... rubber HATES extreme heat!!!Mike and I discussed how the Cardiff Experience was, ultimately, a large metal hangar- with significant changes in temperature- resulting in an unstable environment that could accelerate the deterioration of materials such as rubber- no matter how much time was spent on restoring and stabilising the exhibits themselves. With several of the Museum exhibits having now been on display since 2018, the semi- subterranean nature of the Museum has proven a haven for these precious pieces- also with everything Behind safety glass - adds another layer of protection as - with the best will in the world- people want to touch, lightly squeeze and generally 'touch' exhibits. These pieces are so fragile and need the utmost care and attention....and thankfully my daily carefully cleaning and checks have kept everything tip top!
Again, biggest thank you to Mike for making this all possible.
