Badge of the Prinses Irena Brigade, which was set up in 1941 in the UK for mainly Dutch military fighting Nazi Germany (TRC 2020.0476). The badge displays the Dutch rampant lion.I had a bit of a shock yesterday at the TRC. We had the opening of the new exhibition on Wednesday (“Textile Tales from the Second World War”). Yesterday morning there was a very positive and encouraging article in the Leidsch Dagblad (click here), with a photograph on the front page and an additional brief column about the need for municipal and other support for the TRC. Thanks to this article, and the many blogs and other PR, we received quite a few phone calls and emails making appointments to see the display.
Yes, textiles is a subject that particularly attract women, although over the years we've got many men interested in various (often technical) aspects. But lo and behold, and yes, it was a bit of a shock and my knees almost gave way: yesterday at one point in the afternoon there were three men in the gallery keenly looking at the exhibition – without their wives present!!! Normally men sit quietly in the hubby's corner with a book or magazine, cup of coffee and a biscuit.
The corona virus is certainly changing the world: Men publicly enjoying textiles and the tales they represent. What will ever happen next?
Gillian Vogelsang, 18 September 2020
