Brighton and the 1948 Olympics

With the 2012 Olympics opening tomorrow, it is interesting to note that Brighton can claim several connections with the Olympic Games of 1948 – the last time London was the host city.

Black Rock Swimming Pool

Jean Caplin took part in the Women’s 200 metre breast stroke at the Wembley Pool in August 1948. Eighteen year old Jean, of the Brighton Ladies Swimming Club, was national ASA champion in 1946. Her trainer was Jack Thompson, Superintendent of the Black Rock Swimming Pool. She made it through to the second semi-finals but lost out to Nancy Lyons of Australia.

At the Goldstone Ground in July, Afghanistan played Luxembourg in the Olympic football competition. Despite the crowd yelling ‘encouragement in Arabic and Hindustani’, Afghanistan lost to Luxembourg six goals to nil.

Goldstone Ground, Hove where the Olympic football match took place

Also present at the Olympics was Brighton man, Mr A J P Martin, a timekeeper at the boxing events. He was present at a match where Arnoldo Pares, Argentine bantam-weight, tried to reduce his boxing weight by cutting his hair with a borrowed penknife.

Roger Musgrave, son of Clifford Musgrave, the Director of the Royal Pavilion and Museums,  was an interpreter for the French team attending the Olympic Games. Despite being based in Acton, he seemed unperturbed, stating that he was ‘interested in everything – except sport’

Paul Jordan, Senior History Centre Officer

With thanks to Vicki Tambling for her research.

Our World Stories: Meaning, Masks and Making Malagan

I’m part of the team working on the redevelopment of the World Art gallery at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. This gallery displays some stunning objects from Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific, but visitors – especially young people – have said they find the current displays confusing, outdated and difficult to relate to.

Contemporary versions of a Tatanua Mask

The transformation of the gallery is part of the Stories of the World programme of the Cultural Olympiad for the 2012 London Olympics. The museum is working with young people, source communities overseas and diaspora communities in the UK to gather personal stories, images, sound and film. These, along with some new objects, will sit alongside the historic objects that are chosen for the new displays.

One of the most exciting things about working on the World Stories gallery redevelopment project is the possibility of uncovering new stories in our fantastic World Art collection. Although I’ve worked here for several years now, I feel I’m always learning something new.

That’s definitely been the case with the malagan sculptures from New Ireland, part of Papua New Guinea. With the help of researcher Katherine Prior (pictured here looking at historic and contemporary versions of a tatanua mask with World Stories curator Laura Waters) this collection of striking masks and sculpture has come to life and I’m really excited about the possibility of working with young people, as well as New Ireland artists – some of whom are still working in the malagan tradition – on developing new interpretation for this part of the World Stories gallery displays.

Helen Mears, Keeper of World Art