In Loving Memory - A Personal Reflection

This week I was saddened by the death of one of the last real gentle men of this world, Jeremy Farrell. I had the honour of working with him at the Costume Museum in Nottingham in 2005. Jeremy was the Keeper of the Costume and Textile Collection and his knowledge of the subject was remarkable. Sometimes I felt like a captive audience, being perhaps the only person in days to whom he had the chance to talk about the collection. I was regaled with stories of items in storage as we repacked them into new boxes. Too many stories to remember them all clearly.

Several days a week Jeremy's partner David would do volunteer work and his knowledge is equally comprehensive. My thoughts are with David at this time as I know how devastated he will be by the loss of Jeremy.

When I was told a month ago that Jeremy had cancer I was shocked. Hearing of his death so soon afterwards came as a real blow. All of my former colleagues at Nottingham Castle, who had all worked with Jeremy at the Costume Museum, held him in high regard, and rightly so. This regard was never apparent amongst the management, however. Several years ago he was put on disciplinary charge for defending the council in the Evening Post without asking for their permission to do so. One friend who is still at the Castle asked the manager this week for Jeremy's address so he could send a letter, to be told (probably with that leering smirk he always reserved when talking to or about gay employees) "No, he's dead" - very tactful, I don't think.

With Nottingham's major role in the textile industry and development of the city's economy, and as a world-renowned manufacturer of lace, it’s impossible to think of the city without a costume museum. Yet, for the last few years Jeremy was forced to work, often alone, in a locked building devoid of regular staff, devoid of visitors, surrounded by thousands of items still in their display cases. The reason? The city council couldn't be bothered to put up enough cash to convert the building to comply with disability access legislation. Jeremy prepared the collection for its promised removal into a new building - a promise the council NEVER showed any sign of honouring. Instead they wasted millions on a contemporary art eye-sore in the area synonymous with Nottingham's textile industry, the Lace Market. What a stab in the back that would have seemed to Jeremy.

Without Jeremy Farrell Nottingham has NO authoritative expert on the subject. All his knowledge and experience was largely wasted. As is the collection he has looked after for many years.

Cancer is a horrible illness. I've lost the 3 most important people in my life to the disease (both parents and partner) and Jeremy's death has made me realise that some people don't get proper recognition in their lifetime. I want do to something to help keep Jeremy's name alive. I've thought of nominating him for a Certificate of Recognition which the NRH awards in February. Then I thought of a gallery at the castle called "Circle of Life". Most of the exhibits come from the costume collection and was perhaps Jeremy's last big project. What would be more appropriate than to rename it the Jeremy Farrell Gallery and keep it as a costume exhibition area. I'm sure my former colleagues at the Castle with support me. The question is - will the city council agree to rename the gallery in his honour?

I hope to write a proper short biography of Jeremy for another part of the website. In the meantime I'll be writing to various people about my idea, and I hope you will support me.

To return to Nottinghamshire's Rainbow Heritage click on www.nottsrainbowheritage.org.uk