Newsletter Friends of Congleton Museum

Meet the Volunteers... Mark Bennett
Our volunteers are our most important resource. You are the backbone of the museum and vital
to its continuing existence. Simply stated, without volunteers there would be no museum.
Interview by Colin Lansley
Mark Bennett, aged 42, is a Congletonian and proud of his roots,
and he thinks the people of Congleton are pretty special too. After
leaving school and trying his hand at several jobs, he thought he
would like to try working abroad. He gained all the necessary
qualifications and landed a job in Calgary, Canada. However,
things changed dramatically for Mark on a return visit to England
to see his parents in 2009 when he suffered a severe brain
haemorrhage. This life-changing event stalled his career but
nothing could keep him down. Two years later, we are very
fortunate to have him here at the museum where, among other
duties he utilizes his PC skills by electronically improving worn or damaged photographs. Mark also
assists us by photographing the books in the museum‘s library for inclusion in the database as well
as researching possible sources for grants—essential for funding on-going projects.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: My last school was
Westlands High School. It‘s
been knocked down now and it‘s
nothing but houses.
Q: Did you receive any further
education?
A: Yes, I went to Manchester
University to study Chemistry.
After a few minor jobs I went to
Manchester Metropolitan to get
my MSC in Science Instruments.
I left, had a few more minor jobs;
then I went to Exeter University
to achieve my PHD in Electrical
Capacitance Tomography,
which is similar to an electrical
version of a CT scan. I was then
able to apply for jobs in
universities and succeeded at
Leeds. After this I started
applying for jobs abroad.
Q: Why abroad?
A: After working at Leeds
University for five or six years I
and decided I‘d really like to try
Canada because the people I‘d
met from there seemed so
friendly and positive. I stayed in
Vancouver for a while and
looked for jobs on the Internet,
6
and that‘s how I got the job at
Calgary University.
Q: How long were you there?
A: From February 2006 to
June 2009.
Q: What brought you back?
A: I was back in England on
holiday visiting my parents and
had this brain haemorrhage. I
was in hospital for three to four
months. After I had recovered I
went to live with my parents,
but everything had fallen apart
in Canada.
Q: So what made you come to
the museum?
A: I was looking for voluntary
work to get myself a bit more
active, feel more useful and the
museum was one of the first
things that came up.
Q: How long have you been
here at the museum?
A: I‘m not sure. I would think
about a year.
Q: Do you think the museum
does enough to involve the
people in Congleton?
A: Yes, I think it‘s really good.
It‘s a shame that not many
Preserving the past, recording the present, educating the future
people know of it. I do think,
though, we should advertise a lot
more.
Q: Where do you see yourself in
the future, or where would you
like to see yourself?
A: Hopefully back in full-time
research. Also, I‘m interested in
becoming a writer – a
screenwriter. I had some interest
recently from a company in
Canada and it allowed me to get
a good agent there. The film
business seems quite unstable
though, so I try not to get my
hopes up too much.
Mark has come a long way since
the beginning of his illness in
June 2009. It’s only two years
and he’s working at the museum
and socialising with friends, and
speaking to him you wouldn’t
know anything had happened. In
March, he arranged a return visit
to Canada to see his old work
colleagues and take care of
some medical requirements. He
made the trip on his own, which I
think is a marvellous
achievement. I truly think
whatever Mark sets his mind to,
he achieves.