The Staffordshire Hoard on Tour exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral was displayed this summer in the Cathedral’s Chapter House. The event was an overwhelming success with more than 14,700 people over 23 days taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the Anglo Saxon gold. All tickets for the exhibition were claimed before the doors had opened for the first tour.
 
The Cathedral would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge thank you to all of the 200 or so volunteers from all over the West Midlands, who gave up their time to help with this unique exhibition and ensure it was a success. Without the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the volunteers, it is clear that the exhibition would not have been possible at the Cathedral.
 
Of the 200 volunteers registered with the Cathedral to help with the tour, about 160 were existing volunteers and the exhibition also attracted more than 40 new volunteers. Together they completed 84 ‘free timed entry’ shifts, which required over 1,000 volunteer rota ‘slots’.
 
In September, the Cathedral organised three de-briefing and thanksgiving events for this group of volunteers. This gave everyone involved an opportunity to celebrate the teamwork together, to look back and consolidate any learning for the future.
 
Comments from the volunteers about their experiences include:
 
“I thoroughly enjoyed it all and thank (the Cathedral) for letting us be part of the history that took place – I can say ‘I was there’”
 
“It was a very happy and positive volunteering experience for me. There was so much happiness and ‘good feeling’ in the Cathedral together with viewing the Hoard”.
 
“Visitors thought that the Cathedral was the perfect temporary home for the Staffordshire Hoard”.
 
The main Cathedral liaison for the exhibition, Canon Pete Wilcox, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral commented:
“On behalf of the Cathedral and the Staffordshire Hoard partners, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the wonderful volunteers and staff at Lichfield Cathedral, who gave up their free time to be part of the exhibition this summer. Not only did our existing volunteers work hard to ensure the exhibition ran smoothly and to a professional world-class standard, we were also fortunate to meet 40 new volunteers, who were all extremely enthusiastic and keen to be involved with life at the Cathedral during the exhibition. We are delighted that many of the new volunteers are now looking to stay within the Cathedral community and learn new volunteering skills such as training as Cathedral Guides and Welcomers – this will ensure that the visitor experience for the future will continue to be an enjoyable one”.
 
The future for the Staffordshire Hoard
 
One hundred artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard will be displayed in Washington D.C.  from October 29th, for over four months. The exhibition will be displayed in the capital’s National Geographic Museum, while permanent displays will remain in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent.
 
For updates on the Staffordshire Hoard visit www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk