The National Tramway Museum, based at the Crich Tramway Village, have announced two significant appointments with a Chief Executive Officer and the new role of Volunteer Coordinator and Mentor now confirmed. Graham Bennett is the new Chief Executive Officer whilst Victoria Dickerson takes on the Volunteer Coordinator and Mentor role.
These strategic appointments will strengthen the museum’s leadership and volunteer programs as it continues its mission to preserve and share the history of light rail systems in the UK.
Graham has a wealth of experience in people and commercial leadership from the manufacturing and commercial sector and is a trustee and volunteer at three other charities. As CEO, he will oversee the museum’s operations, strategic vision and engagement activities.
Victoria has a MA in Public History and Heritage alongside experience managing volunteers in historic buildings and museum settings. She will lead initiatives to recruit, train, and support the volunteers who play a vital role in the museum’s day-to-day operations and special events.
Graham commented: “This is a place I have visited several times with my family, and I am excited to be given the opportunity toc ombine my commercial experience and time as a trustee and volunteer elsewhere to take the National Tramway Museum onto the next stage in its journey. I am looking forward to working with the team to build on the museum’s successes, strengthen its reputation, and ensure its continued growth and sustainability.”
Victoria added: “I’m really excited to be joining the National Tramway Museum and learning from our amazing team of volunteers. The museum has much to be proud of and volunteers are a key element of its past success and future growth and sustainability. Volunteers are a vital part of our team and I look forward to improving their experiences, developing new opportunities and welcoming new volunteers to the tramway family.”
These appointments mark an important step in the museum’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences, getting the community involved, and preserving Britain’s tramway legacy for generations to come.
Graham Bennett and Victoria Dickerson in front of London County Council 1. (Photograph courtesy of Crich Tramway Village)
If Crich delivers such a good visitor experience with all these paid staff, one wonders why they didn’t win anything in Tram of the Year? The EATM, which has no paid staff, sweeping the board instead.
I can’t help think Crich has gone seriously off the rails in recent years.
As much as I’d love it to be different, I hardly think the results of Tram of the Year are an indication that if someone doesn’t win it means they have gone off the rails!
Because BTO polls and awards are from us the enthusiasts, not the general public.
Is a poll among enthusiasts really justification for your belief? Reviews on sites like Trip Advisor are surely more representative of the opinions of the general public.
Both museums do exceptionally well on there.
Both Museums do well on Trip Advisor and are both exceptional organisations; I find it impossible to select which I prefer. They are, however, very different organisations, requiring significantly different structures (look at opening hours for instance). First and second (even third) places in Tram of the year represent these differences and it is interesting to ask why the placements were such? I thought the outcome would be very different, by a large margin. I wonder if some of the voting reflects the origins of the vehicles, particularly at this time?
Thanks, Gareth. As a TMS member for almost 65 years, it would have been good if I had heard it from them first! Good luck to both of them, anyway.