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Category: British Motor Museum
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The British Motor Museum has won silver in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award category in the prestigious West Midlands Tourism Awards 2025. The awards were held on 18 March at a special ceremony at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. The Awards celebrate the success and accomplishments of tourism businesses across the West Midlands region, promoting the impressive strength of their services, venues, people, experiences and accommodation.
The Museum is proud of its continuous work to incorporate accessibility and inclusivity into all its activities, from conception to execution. The recent addition of the ‘Austin and Morris’ Office’ displays, with holographic presentations, is a key example of this. Both historic offices are equipped with a tablet, which subtitles the speeches given in the offices, and the displays are equipped with induction loops to support people with hearing aids. Additionally, the Museum hosts accessible school and community visits, and runs a Travel Support Fund to enable schools from low-income areas to visit the Museum by helping them to save money on coach travel.
The Museum also offers Touch and Access Tours and Object Handling workshops, allowing anyone to interact with the cars and objects on display. More recently, the Community team has expanded its external relationships, notably visiting Warm Hubs for the first time, to give people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to see the Museum the chance to engage with the collections. A new permanent Changing Places toilet has also been installed which is designed to accommodate those with accessibility needs, with specialist equipment, such as a hoist and space for carers.
Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the British Motor Museum said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have won silver in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award category. We're so proud to be recognised for our efforts to make automotive history and culture accessible to everyone. A big congratulations to all who were nominated and a big thank you to all those who support the British Motor Museum!”
The West Midlands Tourism Awards are supported by the West Midlands Growth Company, the region’s official destination marketing agency. Pre-pandemic, the tourism sector contributed £13.1 billion to the West Midlands economy, attracting 134 million visitors, and supporting more than 137,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
For more information about the West Midlands Tourism Awards visit http://westmidlandstourismawards.com/
To find out more about the British Motor Museum - www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
Photo of (left to right) Jim Ellison, Emma Rawlinson and Stephen Laing from the Museum collecting the award
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The British Motor Museum is hosting the UK’s largest BMW meet when it returns to Gaydon for a fourth year on Sunday 27 April.
The ‘Ultimate BMW Meet’ is the perfect event for BMW enthusiasts, uniting fans of classics, latest models, and everything in between.
Last year over 1,000 BMWs attended the ‘Ultimate BMW Meet’, with private owners and more than 30 Car Clubs showcasing everything from iconic classics to the rarest and most sought-after cars. This year the show will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Alpina, an momentous occasion, especially as BMW steps into a new chapter with the acquisition of the Alpina brand.
Visitors can also see over 400 historic British cars on display along with the 1928 BMW Dixi which was presented to the Rover Group in 1994 to commemorate their new partnership.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “Come and join us for a fantastic day celebrating BMW’s heritage, community and performance! Whether you're a die-hard buff or just admire the badge, this meet promises to be an unforgettable day of BMW appreciation.”
Advance Show tickets cost £17 per adult, £9 per child, £15 per concession, £46 for a family of four and £52 for a family of five. Please note that 27 April is one of up to 5 Annual Pass Exempt Days per year. Members and Premium Members can visit for free, but annual passes and promotional vouchers are not valid for this event.
For more information about the ‘Ultimate BMW Meet’, visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/ultimate-bmw-meet
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The popular and informal 'Gaydon Gathering' events return to the British Motor Museum on Tuesday 8 April from 5pm – 8:30pm. The events, which are free to attend, are aimed at motoring enthusiasts, and take place outside on the arenas on the second Tuesday of each month. Over 500 vehicles regularly participated at the Gatherings in 2024 with an impressive mix of vehicle types, makes, and models.
Pre-booking is essential, and tickets will be released online a few weeks before each event and announced on social media. The dates for the rest of the Gatherings are 13 May, 10 June, 8 July, 12 August, 9 September and 14 October.
In addition to providing an opportunity for like-minded motoring enthusiasts to display their vehicles, each Gathering features the 'Collection Spotlight' at 6:30pm when one of the many unique vehicles from the collections will be brought out and driven around the grounds for everyone to see and hear. News as to which car will be in the spotlight are posted on the social media channels in the run-up to the events. Previous spotlights have been the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, the trio of Monte Carlo Rally winning Minis and an Ariel Atom V8.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “After a winter of Museum Late events, we are so looking forward to hosting our ‘Gaydon Gatherings’ outside again! Each month until October, we will be running this regular meet-up where petrolheads can indulge their passion, hopefully in the sunshine!”
Display vehicles will be parked in front of the Museum, and there will be separate free parking for those visitors who aren’t displaying. Visitors can enjoy refreshments with a special theme for each month, the first theme is Jamaican. There will also be burgers, teas, coffees and cold drinks as well as a bar courtesy of local Windmill Hill Brewing Company.
Dogs are welcome on leads.
Please note that the Museum itself will not be open for the evening gatherings.
For more information and to book your FREE tickets for Aprils’ Gaydon Gathering, visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/gaydon-gathering-april
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As a third generation automotive Engineer, Jeff Coope’s enthusiasm and affection for the motor industry is clear. He started his career in 1976 as an engineering apprentice with first tier automotive supplier Lockheed and he went on to work for British Aerospace, Honda, BMW and Ford. In 1997 he moved from engine development to estate management, managing Jaguar Land Rover’s 900-acre Gaydon research site, before joining the British Motor Museum in 2002 as Director of Operations.
In his role as Director of Operations, Jeff planned and implemented many projects that are now part of the DNA of the Museum - from the creation of the Collections Centre and redesign of the Museum in 2016 to the design and construction of a driver training track in the Museum grounds. Appointed Managing Director in March 2020, his five years leading the organisation have navigated some turbulent times and yet, despite this, the Museum and Conference Centre that helps to support it, have gone from strength to strength.
Jeff had a very clear vision - for the Museum to become the global focal point of Britain’s automotive history and culture, sharing our heritage with future generations and truly being a place for everyone. During his tenure he has seen the development of the Museum into an award winning, highly regarded organisation, recognised as a benchmark both by its peers and industry bodies such as Arts Council England.
Jeff said “I am delighted to have served as Director of Operations and Managing Director and have enjoyed taking the Trust and the Museum to a new level. We looked to new horizons and are well on the way to becoming a Museum truly representative of all British manufacturers. During my time, we have increased our appeal to visitors, enthusiasts and institutions with new products, events and facilities and I am pleased to leave the Museum with a very bright future ahead of it.”
Joel Kordan, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to thank Jeff for his exemplary 23 years of service at the Museum. What a legacy - he’ll be a hard act to follow! We wish Jeff all the very best in his retirement which will no doubt include a great deal more time spent with his passions of sports cars, motorbikes and sailing!” 
The recruitment of a new CEO is already underway and, in the interim, the organisation is in the capable hands of Finance Director, Adrian Managhan.
To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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Sophia Myles, who starred as Lady Penelope in the 2004 film Thunderbirds, paid a visit to the British Motor Museum on 10 March to be reunited with her iconic car. The famous pink car has been on display at the Museum since 2005 and this was the first time Sophia had seen it since the release of the film. She signed the dashboard of the FAB 1 car, making it extra special for Museum visitors who come to see it. Sophia also signed photos for fans and face-timed Ron Cook who played Lady Penelope's faithful butler and chauffeur, Parker, in the film. Afterwards she enjoyed a private tour of the Museum to view the extensive collections. 
Sophia Myles, said "I had the honour of being invited to the British Motor Museum to be reunited with my FAB 1 pink car. I never thought I could get emotional about a car, but seeing it again after over 20 years, made me well up! The entire visit was a joy from start to finish. There are so many amazing vehicles to see. We were given a guided tour by Robin, which was utterly fascinating. Thank you to the entire team for giving me such a treat of a day! I cannot recommend a visit to the British Motor Museum highly enough. I will be returning for sure."
Ford of Europe’s design team brought FAB 1, the larger-than-life limousine, into the 21st century – lower, sleeker and even more grand. FAB 1 has a central part in the 2004 film Thunderbirds with International Rescue, the fictional organisation that saves the world where other forces fail. In the hands of Parker, FAB 1 can travel on land, air or sea. Inside, Lady Penelope travels in style and luxury. Sitting in her throne-like seat, she is surrounded by wood, leather, sheepskin and chrome.
Visitors to the Museum can now come and see the newly autographed famous six-wheeler for themselves. For more information about the Museum and to book tickets, please visit the website at: https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/
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