This story was published in the Stevenage Herald, to read the original article click here

COMPANY COMES TO AID OF MUSEUM

EDITORIAL - herts.advertiser@archant.co.uk
18 May 2005

CHILDREN will soon be finding out what it was like to survive a bombing raid in the war by hiding in a genuine underground Anderson shelter, thanks to a Stevenage company.

The shelter has been installed in a cellar at Hitchin British Schools Museum which offers a unique look at education in the past.

But the work has only been possible thanks to a valuable donation in kind from Caswell Environmental Services of Stevenage.

The company, licensed to remove lethal asbestos, took out a boiler containing asbestos from the cellar at the museum and cleaned the area free of charge.

Gary McComb, contracts manager for Caswell Environmental Services, said the company was pleased to help the schools.

"The museum is a great place for children and schools to visit. I took my children around to see the Victorian classrooms. We thought it was a great idea if Caswell could help to add the wartime experience to the British Schools."

"The cellar is now certified free of any hazard and ready for work to start to install the Anderson shelter," said Terry Ransome, marketing director at the schools.

The Anderson shelter has been donated by the Imperial War Museum at Duxford where it was not being used and was spotted by Tony Ireland, a volunteer at Duxford and at the British Schools.

The award of a £8,100 lottery Home Front Recall grant will be used to install the shelter and fit out one of the museum's classrooms in a wartime style.

The educational museum will now be able to extend its programme for schools. Education director Yvonne Limbrick said: "With the resources made possible by this award we will offer an evacuee schooldays' experience for visiting schools, complementing our popular taste of Victorian schooldays programme.

"Schoolchildren will pretend to be evacuated from London to Hitchin, experience lessons in the wartime classroom and then try out an air raid shelter."

For details about the Hitchin British Schools Museum, in Queen Street, call 01462 420144.

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David Burridge, of Caswell Environmental Services, in his protective clothing during removal of the asbestos

Frank Tobin, of Caswell Environmental Services, examines the boiler at the British Schools