The Mapping Museum research project was created to look at the increase in the number of museums in the UK. As part of this project, John Gilchrist was interviewed about the British Commercial Vehicle Museum.

Explore more about the Mapping Museum project here and read Gilchrist's interview below:

Interview summary

Name of person being interviewed: John Gilchrist

Location of interview: British Commercial Vehicle Museum, Leyland

Date of Recording: 13 December 2018

Recording Length: 01:09:55

Name of interviewer: Dr Toby Butler

Description: The British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland, Lancashire grew up from a company collection and archive at British Leyland; over 35 years it has amassed a substantial collection of trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles, ranging from horse-drawn vehicles to diesel-electric hybrid lorries.

Summary of main points in interview: John Gilchrist has been chair of the trustees of the BCVM Trust since its foundation in 1993. The Trust was formed to administer the collection when the company that owned the collection went into receivership. Previously, access to the collection had been by appointment only. The collection is housed in the old finishing workshop of British Leyland Truck and Bus.

A proportion of the collection is owned by private individuals who pay the museum to look after their vehicles. The condition of the building deteriorated and in 1993 it was too cold and uncomfortable to open to the public in the winter months. A refit was funded by a £2m Heritage Lottery grant. Conferences and events can now be accommodated in new meeting rooms, school visits, special events for vehicle enthusiasts, and bus tours are planned and they hope to increase visitor numbers from 10,000 to 30,000 a year. Gilchrist describes his own interest in engines and trucks, and his desire, from a young age, to understand how they work.