New curator has lots planned for Folk and Costume Museum

Although her role did not officially begin until opening week, she was eagerly getting things ready for the start of the season the week before.

‘It is my dream job,’ said Aly.

‘When I was eight I went to St Faggans National Museum of History and I remember going on a primary school visit and I just fell in love with history.’

Aly went on to study her favourite subject at the University of Liverpool and after a period of time working in insurance was drawn back to the subject and became a history teacher.

She came to Guernsey as a supply teacher for three months and worked at the old St Sampson’s senior school.

After that time, when Aly was asked to stay, she gladly accepted and 17 years later is still on the island.

‘I met my husband, who’s a local, and when I married him I married the rock,’ she said.

‘I left South Wales when I was 18 and I’m at the point when I’ve nearly been in Guernsey as long as I lived in Wales.

‘This is my home, this is where I bring my boys up,’ she said.

Despite teaching, Aly’s heart was always in museums.

‘The idea of being involved with museums had been burning in me for a long time,’ she said.

‘I had done some volunteering with the National Trust at Les Caches last year and kept in touch with them and then saw the job.

‘It’s amazing, sometimes in life these things come up and you’ve just got to go for it,’ she said.

Aly has lots planned for the museum including a creation station for children and ideas for family fun days.

‘For the long term I want to engage with tourists and with locals, schools and education programmes, but not just with the Folk and Costume Museum but with the National Trust as a whole.

‘I would like to see a dynamic and engaging programme of educational events in place that utilises the diversity of our sites,’ she said.

Aly said she believed the Folk and Costume museum should be at the centre of the community, a place where visitors and locals engage with Guernsey’s social history.

‘The museum and courtyard are a perfect location to promote the arts, crafts and culture of the island,’ she said.

Aly also said embracing new technology such as social media will allow followers of the museum to keep up to date with the day-to-day workings of the museum.

Aly said day-to-day managing of the museum included opening up and checking everything was in working order, sorting and collating artefacts and planning exhibitions.

‘It also involves going out to meet people to ask how can we work for you.

‘I’m about being proactive to draw people in.’

Aly highlighted the beauty surrounding the museum’s location, including the park itself.

‘It’s fantastic and I really want the museum to be a part of that, it’s part of the history of the island,’ she said.

n The museum opened on 2 April and will stay open until 31 October. Events coming up include The Wonder of Wool on 19 April and a Family Fun Day on 23 April, both during the Heritage Festival. Those wishing to keep up to date with the museum can follow @NTFolk on Twitter.