MEET YOUR 2024 / 2025 RENTER WARDENS - PHILLIP POWELL
22 NOVEMBER 2024
I joined the Imperial War Museum London in 1972 as a Library Assistant. Back in 1968 there had been a major fire in the library reading room and as a result there was a large amount of material that required conversation. Consequently, I was sent to the India Office, the leading light in paper conservation at the time and lucky enough to work with Fred Marsh and his team and then use my acquired skills in paper conservation and repair, encapsulation and primary book binding at the museum.
In later years, I was involved in disaster recovery for museum items due to fire and flooding.
In 1978 I became a Museum Assistant and was responsible for Library Assistants supplying material to the public attending the reading room.
In 1983 I was made a Museum Officer with responsibility for the museum stores at Duxford, Cambridge.
Later on I was promoted to Stock Control Manager and one of my tasks was setting up our own conservation unit within the Department of Printed Books.
In the early nineties, I was successful in joining the Institute of Information Technologists, which became part of the Library Association, which enabled me to become a Chartered Librarian.
I retired from the Imperial War Museum in 2005.
In 1978 I joined the Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) as a uniformed police volunteer and during my 33 years’ service, was promoted to Special Inspector in charge of MSC officers in Lambeth. I became a member of the International Police Association and was appointed Archivist of Section UK and shortly after International Archivist, both voluntary positions based in Nottingham, where I created both archives and continue to hold these positions.
Since retiring from the MSC in 2012, I have continued to assist the police as a Police Volunteer.
I was very proud to become a Liveryman in 2012 and have served on the Hall & Heritage and Access Committees and this year became a Renter Warden.