In March 2020, museum professionals in the United Kingdom found themselves in an unprecedented situation – attempting to collect an unfolding and unpredictable pandemic while navigating its impacts on their personal and working lives.

Since 2000, the Science Museum Group has collected over 1000 items, including the first empty vial of the UK’s vaccine roll out, lectern signs from UK Government briefings, rainbow signs, and material from NHS Nightingale Hospitals.

The act of collecting, preserving and documenting was balanced against the knowledge that lives and livelihoods were at risk, including potentially our own and our loved ones. Many potential donors were key workers and those already under considerable stress in their everyday lives. Practical questions proliferated including how to collect items physically while socially distancing and with limited travel. Ever-changing restrictions meant material was constantly in danger of being lost.

Date: Monday 11th November
Time: 6.00 pm AGM; lecture 6.30 pm
Cost: £15 or if you’d like to give a donation of:
*£5 pick the £20 ticket option (any guest ticket will be £15)
*£10 pick the £25 ticket option (any guest ticket will be £15)
*£20 pick the £35 ticket option  (any guest ticket will be £15)
To Book:
Members:  Click here to book
Non-members, please contact Beci Ryan to purchase tickets: Friends@apothecaries.org