Science Museum | Science Museum Group Collection

Interview with Rob Bullock recorded by Victor Cai on 18 October 2025, at the Dana Research Centre, Science Museum, London. Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 25 seconds. [Start of interview, track 01] Family background, childhood, education at University of Nottingham studying Geography with Business, interest in human geography, environmental sustainability and the built environment; when he knew he was gay, when he accepted it; university, coming out, diversity at university compared to home. [00:09:30] Joined Network Rail (NR) graduate scheme in 2010, attracted by infrastructure, environmental work and rail investment including CrossRail, London Bridge and King’s Cross redevelopment; completed funded Project Management Master’s Degree at University College London (UCL), and asked at interview about working for NR as a gay man. [00:16:00] diversity and inclusion at NR, how it used to be, how it felt to him, how it has changed; worked on Great Western Railway (GWR) Electrification as Project Management Assistant, including branch lines, Welsh Valley Lines and feasibility studies. [00:24:40] His role as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Region, supporting team management, role of Personal Assistant; coming out during interview for the role, learnt from senior colleagues; background, role and responsibilities of the Director, their work relationship, how RB championed LGBTQIA+ inclusion. [00:30:40] Volunteered during the 2012 London Olympics at Charing Cross Station; after hearing a homophobic slur about people visiting Heaven nightclub, called out the colleague involved, prompting him to explore forming an LGBTQIA+ network at NR and become more vocal about workplace inclusion. [00:36:20] Moved to Stonewall as Project Manager for three years, running LGBTQIA+ inclusion events and conferences and maintaining links with railway companies through the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme; reflects on equal marriage, transgender inclusion, winning hearts and minds, and rising transphobia and homophobia. [00:41:20] Grew Stonewall’s workplace conference and engagement by 50%, bringing public and private sector organisations together to learn about inclusion; reflects on behind-the-scenes inclusive influencing with senior leaders and politicians, toxic debates about transgender rights, and meeting people where they are to take them on a journey. [00:47:50] Joined Department for Transport (DfT) in 2018 as Project Management Specialist on High Speed 2 (HS2), bringing project management expertise to DfT, helping oversee HS2 Limited and considering national benefits, governance, political sensitivity and regeneration; discusses scope reductions under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak and Rail's needs more investment. [00:58:50] Reflects on demoralising HS2 reductions, impartial advice to governments, reduced confidence in large projects, need for realistic costs and long-term rail strategy, and value of greater diversity of thought in NR and the Civil Service. [end of track 01] [Track 02] Discusses value of non-STEM backgrounds alongside technical expertise; after six years at DfT moved to Science Museum Group (SMG) to set up a project management office for construction projects, linking back to rail through the National Railway Museum (NRM). [00:06:30] Describes Stonewall as the biggest change to his personal life, helping him embrace the LGBTQIA+ community, develop a gay social circle in London and build lasting friendships. [00:09:10] Concerns about current society going backwards with regard to LGBTQIA+ community, book bans and changes in laws in the USA, rise of far-right in the UK, challenges for politically neutral LGBTQIA+ organisations to potentially work with far-right; hopes LGBTQIA+ communities will respond to adversity and that Stonewall or other organisations will “lead the charge” for LGBTQIA+ equality. [end of interview]

Rob Bullock interviewed by Victor Cai

2025-10-18

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Replica of Bell's 1876 centennial telephone transmitter, 1959

Knochenhauer spirals, 1963

Replicas of Alexander Graham Bell's 1879 'Patent Office' telephone, 1959

Replicas of Alexander Graham Bell's 1879 'Patent Office' telephone, 1959

Replica of Bell's 1876 'iron-box' receiver, 1959

Models of three wooden prisms used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Model of open oscillator with spherical radiators used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Model of wire screen in octagonal frame used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Models of two parabolic zinc reflectors used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Model of plane zinc reflector used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Model Great Northern Railway Centre-pivot Semaphore Signal

Model of Brunel's Disc and Crossbar Signal

Model of Chambers' Signal Interlocking Frame

Working model of Hero's Aeolipile

Replica of Soemmerring's telegraph of 1809-12, 1964

Digital copy of Rastrick, John Urpeth: Common Place Book. [Shropshire] [1803?-1809].

Model of Landsat 5 satellite, 1986

Wooden box containing various elements

Replicas of Alexander Graham Bell's 1879 'Patent Office' telephones, 1959

Model Stringfellow's triplane, 1868.

Seven 1/4 scale models of apparatus used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Replica of 1866 Dallmeyer carte-de-visite camera

Voltaic pile from replica of Soemmerring's telegraph of 1809-12, 1964

Transmitter and indicator from replica of Soemmerring's telegraph of 1809-12, 1964

Sail for Model of Landsat 5 satellite, 1986

Disk and support for model of Landsat 5 satellite, 1984.

Main body of model of Landsat 5 satellite, 1986

Model Home and Distant Signals, Great Eastern Railway

Model Stringfellow's triplane, 1868.

Replica Film Holder for Lumiere Cinematographe

Section of the stream-line oil renovator diagram

Early drawing of vacuum apparatus

Anton Valk interviewed by Michael Robson

Wooden storage box to hold elements

Replica of Stephenson's famous Rocket which has arrived at the Science Museum

Replica Handle for Lumiere Cinematographe

Rob Bullock interviewed by Victor Cai

Replica of Stephenson's famous Rocket which has arrived at the Science Museum

Replica Friese-Greene Stereoscope Camera

Replica of Stephenson's famous Rocket which has arrived at the Science Museum

Warren Scott interviewed by Kosma Mrzyglod

Two photographs of plates from the "Dictionnaire des Sciences"

Electric lamp and sapre bulb for Tomson mirror speaking galvanometer, 1960-1985

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Replica Rudge Phantascope

Two Reproduction Glass Positives Made for Replica of Rudge's Phantascope

Model of American paddle wheel river steamer vessel

Robert Hughes interviewed by Claire McHugh

1/4 scale model of appartus for stationary wave experiments (long cylinder of 24 copper wires) used by Heinrich Hertz, 1949

Mark Havenhand interviewed by Scott Foster