Ivor Lewis interviewed by Matthew Hick

Oral history interview with Ivor Lewis conducted and recorded by Matthew Hick on 6 September 2012, at the National Railway Museum. Duration: 23 minutes. How he became involved in volunteering at NRM, interest in Great Western Railway (GWR), researching and accessing NRM archive during retirement, discussion with archivist on GWR drawings held at NRM led to becoming a volunteer; [00:03:00] further background; began volunteering in 2010, Tim Proctor (archivist) and Alan Gardner (President of GW Broad-Gauge Society) discussion, table of Swindon drawings (800 rolls) provided, eight members of Broad-Gauge Society worked through 50 rolls (2011) to catalogue them, IL became a volunteer to lead a group cataloguing the remaining 750 rolls; [00:08:00] thoughts on volunteering activities completed; May 2011 team of 15 worked on the rolls together, enjoyable, IL administering, further meetings resulted in all rolls catalogued by end of 2011, carried on cataloguing carriage and wagon rolls, 2 sessions done to date, further 600 to do; [00:12:00] what motivated people to travel a long distance to work at the NRM; good relationship between volunteers; wanting to give something back, important work for researchers; [00:13:50] discussion on timescale for archiving the remaining drawings, uncertainty, continuing to complete carriage and wagon works drawings, wanting to continue; [00:15:00] discussing how volunteering experience could be improved, relationship with NRM staff; [00:16:00] origin of railway enthusiasm, trainspotting as a teenager, interest in railway history; [00:17:40] what IL is interested in at NRM, mechanical engineering, archives, personal views that the museum has a more open approach than in the past; [00:21:20] coming to volunteer in block 3 times a year, ambiance at NRM; hoping for more people to volunteer and help behind the scenes [00:23:16] [end of interview]

Oral history recording made as part of a NRM oral history of volunteering initiative led by NRM volunteering team between 2012 and 2015, with the aim to record the voices of people sharing their volunteering experiences at the National Railway Museum, including NRM colleagues supervising volunteers.