Winter 2016 Volunteer of Note

At the changing of each season, after some discussion, we select one volunteer to recognise as our "Volunteer of Note".  We have chosen volunteer and member of the Board of Directors, Corbin Lippert, as our Winter 2016 VoN. 

Corbin represents the London Amateur Radio Club on our Board of Directors, but has become quite dedicated to the Secrets of Radar Museum.  Corbin not only brings technical radio knowledge to the museum, but he actively engages the LARC membership with the goings-on of the museum.  He's enthusiastic, enterprising, a bit of a handyman, and always looking for new ways to help both organisations thrive.

Thanks for everything you do, Corbin !

Corbin Lippert, December 2015.  Courtesy of the London Amateur Radio Club

Manager & Curator Maya Hirschman talks up the Museum in this week's "Our London"

In case you missed the story in this week's Our London, reporter Whitney South spent some time visiting the Museum and interviewing Manager and Curator, Maya Hirschman.  You can read the full article online.

“ Imagine helping to save the world — and having to keep it a secret for 50 years.

But more than a story in an old spy novel, this was reality for thousands of men and women working behind the scenes during the Second World War. Groups of radar mechanics and operators, physicists and researchers, working to protect soldiers abroad, all in complete secrecy.

These days, their stories live on at the Secrets of Radar Museum, here in London.

For curator Maya Hirschman, nothing is more important than getting the chance to share those stories with a new generation.

“These were Canadian men and women, from all walks of life, who never expected to end up doing top secret work,” she explained. “Like spies and codebreakers, they promised their silence, and their reward was that the official history completely forgot about them.” ”

— http://www.ourlondon.ca/news-story/6227398-opening-the-doors-on-war-s-best-kept-secrets/

Julien Olson, radar vet and architect, talks about the Prime Minister's Residence

Julien Olson, one of our deeply supportive and enthusiastic Ottawa-based radar veterans, led an entirely different sort of career following the war.  In this Ottawa Sun article, from December 28, 2015, Julien shares his memories about working on the 1950-51 renovation of 24 Sussex as a young architect with the Dept. of Public Works.

Autumn 2015 Volunteer of Note: Michelle Rosenblat

Michelle joined us in September through an internship program at Western University.  Very quickly she made herself at home and has become an integral part of the curatorial team.  Eager, dedicated, creative, and responsible, Michelle has continued work on an unfinished virtual exhibit initially researched and written by a previous intern. This includes editing segments of oral history from our archives, and sourcing photographs and artefacts. Her time with us has had her researching equipment necessary for the EMC Grant digitisation project, and digging through the collection for cool things to put on our Twitter.  In a pinch, she can even give a tour.  Michelle finishes with us in early December, but has promised to come back in January. 

Thanks for all you do, Michelle!

Congratulations to Dr. Fred Hunt, RCAF radar veteran

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Dr. Fred Hunt is all smiles after granting Curator Maya Hirschman a lovely interview in July, 2015. 

Congratulations to Dr. Fred Hunt, radar veteran, on receiving the French Legion of Honour!

The ceremony was held on November 10, 2015, with French Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis presenting the medals.  The veterans were honoured for the roles they played in France's liberation.  Fred is one of our long-time supporters and an esteemed World War II radar veteran.  We have numerous artefacts in the collection donated by Fred, including field maps from his time operating mobile radar in France and Belgium.  He is also one of the veterans we profile in the In Harm's Way exhibit, currently in development, about radar on the front lines.  

The full list of Legion of Honour recipients follows:

Acorn, Ivan

Bova, George

Bray, John Reynold Delmeigne

Bridgewater, Albert

Craske, Peter

Farley, Raymond

Fouchard, George

Fowlow, Gilbert

Hanley, Robert

Highley, John

Hunt, Frédérick

Huot, Marcel

Juneau, Gérard

Kaspar, Walter

Little, Ronald Joseph

McKechnie, Donald

Moore, William

Neatby, Herbert Blair

Notman, Allan

Scharf, James

Read more and view photographs from the award ceremony at the links below.

• National Post
• Ottawa Sun

Summer Volunteer of Note: Sunny Kim

Congratulations to Sunny Kim, our Summer 2015 Volunteer of note!

Sunny has been a dedicated member of the museum's collections management team, tirelessly pursuing our catalogue backlog.  Aside from her attention to detail and diligence, Sunny brings cheer and humour to her work.  Thank you, Sunny, for all your hard work!

In Memorium: Roy Taylor, 1920-2015

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RoyTaylor (2013) stands in front of his 1940 enlistment group photo.

It is with a deep sadness that I post about the passing of yet another beloved veteran from the SoRM family.  Roy Taylor, in his 96th year, passed away last week as a result of a brief, but serious infection.  We last had Roy out to the museum for the LARC club station opening on May 18th and he was in fine form, smiling, looking good, and delighted to enjoy the museum, amateur radio, sunshine and barbecue. 

Roy has been an integral part of SORM since its beginnings and his presence is felt throughout the museum.  Although he hasn't volunteered with us since November 2013, his contribution continues to be felt.  Many of the stories we share as part of our regular tours come from his memoir, and they will live on a while longer in the travelling exhibition I'm currently developing.  With his passing, we have come to the end of an era.  Roy was the last local WW2 radar veteran to be involved with us, and while it's sad, it's also not really surprising. 

It was a great privilege to get to know Roy, his story, his gentlemanly character, and his smile.

~ Maya

Per Ardua Ad Astra ("Through Adversity To The  Stars": RCAF motto)

From Peter Garland, SoRM Past President and NORAD radar veteran:

“Roy was a gentleman, who brought the beginnings of radar to life for so many children and adults. Our museum was a big part of his life, and he served it well, preserving the story. We are all so lucky to have known him and to have witnessed his fascinating living history, the story of SORM.

”Track faded”, as the radar operators parlance has it.

To the Stars, Roy.”

A celebration of Roy's life will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Westview Baptist Church, 1000 Wonderland Road South, London.  As an expression of sympathy, the family has asked that donations may be made to The Secrets of Radar Museum, P.O. Box 24033, London, ON N6H 5C4 or Canadian Diabetes Association, 442 Adelaide Street N., London, ON N6B 3H8. 

Click here for Roy's official obituary.

LARC Opens its Club Station at SORM

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with the London Amateur Radio Club, who have opened up their club station at our museum.  VE3LS is on the air !  They are typically on-site Saturdays during our open hours, and they'll be running their autumn radio course in our lounge this coming autumn.  Stay tuned for news.  We celebrated their club's official opening on May 18th, at which many long-time SoRM friends and LARC members were treated to museum tours, sunshine, barbecue, and cake.  It was a great day.

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Corbin Lippert (foreground), SORM's London Amateur Radio Club representative on the Board, with friends in the 'Clinton Room' during the LARC grand opening event, May 18, 2015.