Latest News
Parsons' Project Appeal
Mar 22 2019
Appeal for historic documents and artefacts from C A Parsons the company, Grubb Parsons, or anything relevant to the Parsons family who settled in Northumberland.
Forthcoming talk on History and Technology at Discovery Museum on Tuesday 13th February 2018
Jan 22 2018
Restoring Sir Charles Parsons' Resting Place
Jan 15 2018
There is a current crowdfunding campaign to restore the final resting place of Sir Charles and Lady Katharine Parsons
Chairman's Christmas Message
Nov 28 2017
Friends and fellow members of FODM’s, I should like to wish you warmest greetings for the coming festive season
FODMs Chrsitmas Gathering
Nov 09 2017
Diary date for Friends of Discovery Museum
FODMs AGM Tuesday 27th June 12.00pm
Jun 13 2017
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Discovery Museum will take place at 12-00 noon in the Turbinia Room (4th Floor) at the Discovery Museum
Energising Exhibits
May 16 2017
FODMs members currently run engines and carry out repairs and maintenance of exhibits and equipment within the museum.
FODMs Appeal for Volunteers
Apr 11 2017
We are a small group of retired, young at heart, enthusiastic individuals who use our collective engineering knowledge and experience providing support to Newcastle’s Discovery Museum.
2017 Membership Renewal
Mar 17 2017
Note from The Secretary :
FODMs Spring Bulletin
Mar 01 2017
FODMs Spring Bulletin has been sent out to members - you can read it online here
Motor Cycles - Special Interest Group?
Feb 27 2017
Following the publication of my reminiscences last year on the motorcycling activities just around the corner from Discovery on Westgate Road
From Discovery's Reference Library "English Without Tears"
Feb 10 2017
The Reference library at Discovery contains some 14,000 artefacts, including engineering firms' brochures and publicity material, magazines, journals and books.
PROJECT : History of the Electricity Supply Industry in NE England
Jan 19 2017
The North East of England led the Country in the application of electricity to motive power in industry in the early years of the 20th Century.
Volunteers in Uniform
Dec 19 2016
Our members who help out in the Discovery Museum by repairing and cleaning exhibits, running the engines and taking our Arcs and Sparks tours now have a natty new polo shirt to wear whilst carrying out their activities.
Men And Sheds
Dec 02 2016
I have been asked by our chairman, Ian Burdon, to start a series of newsletter articles on this topic as an ongoing feature.
Visit to Discovery by the Friends of the National Railway Museum
Nov 23 2016
Back in April FODMs members visited the Locomotion Museum at Shildon, County Durham.
Invitation to Christmas Gathering Tuesday 6th December
Nov 08 2016
Dear Friends of Discovery Museum, you are cordially invited to join us for our Christmas meeting which will be held on Tuesday 6th December 12-00 noon to 2-00 pm in the Carpathia Room at Discovery Museum.
Sir Charles Parsons Memorial Plaque
Oct 30 2016
During a recent Arcs and Sparks tour FODMs members discovered a beautiful and historic artwork :
FODMS visit to the TWAM Collections Store at Beamish
Oct 18 2016
As Friends we know that visitors to the Discovery Museum marvel at the objects on display.
One Man’s Shed
Sep 26 2016
The recent small display of a part of Newcastle’s motorcycling history in the Discovery Museum prompted me to dig out an article I wrote some years ago for a well-known motor cycling magazine.
FODMS Quarterly Open Meeting 6th September
Aug 29 2016
Agenda for Quarterly Open meeting --- Tuesday 6th September 2016 at 12-30pm in the Carpathia Room at the Discovery Museum.
The Young Engineer, Design & Technologist Competition
Aug 08 2016
YEDT is a collaborative venture between the Rotary Club of Hexham, The Think Physics initiative (Northumbria University) and the Friends of the Discovery Museum along with the Discovery Museum itself.
Newcastle's Motorcycling Pioneers at Discovery
Jul 31 2016
An exhibition celebrating the motorcycling heritage of J.R Moore, Jesmond/Dene Motorcycles 1898-1922.
Visit to Killhope & Nenthead Lead Mining Museums
Jun 21 2016
On the 25th of May a group of FODMs members headed for the hills.
Visit to the Armstrong Swing Bridge
May 27 2016
The Armstrong Swing Bridge over the River Tyne might be one of Newcastle’s finest landmarks but probably few people get to see how it works
FODMs Seat Repair
May 25 2016
Friends of the Discovery Museum have carried out repairs to a seat in the Soldier’s Life Gallery.
FODMs AGM - Tuesday 7th June
May 18 2016
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Discovery Museum will take place at 12-00 noon in the Carpathia Room at the Discovery Museum.
C. A. Parsons - Heaton Works Journals Project
May 16 2016
As part of FODMs Science and Industry Library Project Chris Watson and David Murray have been electronically indexing the Parsons Heaton Works Journals and have now finished.
Running The Engines Videos
May 13 2016
FODMs engine team run the engines in the Science Maze Gallery at least once per month. We have added a couple of videos of one of them running.
FODMs Visit to Locomotion Railway Museum
May 06 2016
On a grey and misty April morning a group of FODMs members led by our Chairman Ian Burdon visited the Locomotion Railway Museum
Newcastle's Motorcycling Pioneers - Volunteers needed
May 05 2016
The Discovery Museum will be hosting a fabulous new exhibition "Newcastle's Motorcycling Pioneers Part 1" which will take place over 3 weeks from 28th August-19th September 2016
FODMs Membership
Apr 21 2016
Many thanks for supporting the Friends of Discovery Museum and many thanks to those members have already paid their membership subscription for 2016-17.
Technical Archive
Apr 13 2016
FODMs are considering setting up a technical archive to save many of those valuable engineering resources from disappearing into the abyss
Releasing Engineering Brilliance to Create Wealth & Fulfilment
Apr 11 2016
A Talk by Engineer Tony Trapp
The Young Engineer, Design and Technologist Competition
Apr 07 2016
Each year FODMs help organise The Young Engineer, Design and Technologist competition.
Easter Hols - Engines & Arcs & Sparks
Mar 22 2016
FODMs will be running our behind the scenes tour : Arcs & Sparks on Wed 6th April at 11am.
Discovery Costumes and Textiles Tour
Mar 15 2016
FODMs recent quarterly meeting was followed by a tour of the TWAM costume and textiles collection store which is hidden away in its own room behind the scenes in the Discovery Museum.
FODMs Derwent Railway Walk
Mar 08 2016
Following on from our visit to Tanfield Railway - FODMs members were invited to take part in a history walk along the Derwent Walk railway path, led by John Clayson Keeper of Science and Industry at Discovery museum.
Restoration of Tyne Pedestrian & Cycle Tunnels - Talk
Mar 04 2016
If you've been following the progress of the upgrade and restoration of the pedestrian and cyclist Tyne Tunnels, you'll not want to miss this talk.
FODMs Quarterly Open Meeting and Costume & Textiles Tour
Mar 02 2016
Agenda for Quarterly Open meeting --- Tuesday 8th March 2015 at 12-30 pm in the Carpathia Room at the Discovery Museum
Membership notes
Mar 01 2016
Hi everyone, just to let you know I will shortly be sending out the 2016 membership renewals.
Helping The Discovery Museum
Feb 24 2016
FODMs members are helping the Discovery Museum team to index the collection of Parsons Company Heaton Works Journals.
All Spick and Span
Feb 21 2016
Whilst Discovery is a great museum it is unfortunately not housed in a purpose built hermetically sealed dust proof building.
Friends Visit To The Tanfield Railway
Feb 19 2016
On a sunny but somewhat chilly day in November a group of FODMs members took to the hills above Gateshead.
The History of Electricity Supply in North East England - A Project to establish an Archive
Feb 14 2016
Many innovations during the Industrial Revolution were pioneered in North East England. One which is perhaps less-well known to the public at large than railways and iron ships is electricity supply.
Members Derwent Walk CANCELLED
Jan 30 2016
Please note that the FODMs members Derwent Railway Walk scheduled for Monday 1st Feb has been cancelled due to weaher forecast.
Chairman's Welcome To The Website
Jan 27 2016
Welcome to our new website!
Whilst we have discussed (and agreed!) the need for a website for a long time now ...
A Note From The Chairman
Dec 01 2015
Another Season has passed by and here we are, well on our way to the Christmas gathering on 8th December at 12.30 at the Museum
Explaining The Science
Oct 01 2015
The Science Maze Gallery at Discovery Museum is a great place for children of all ages to get hands on with science.
Message from the Manager
Sep 01 2015
Bearing in mind the good weather visitors numbers at Discovery over the summer holidays were high.
Arcs & Sparks Success
Dec 24 2015
TWAM Science & Industry Curator John Clayson reports that the FODMs supported Arcs & Sparks electrical collections project has been a great success.
Running The Engines
Jun 01 2015
A group of FODMs members are now running the Science Maze Gallery engines during the school holiday periods.
Tyne & Wear Heritage Forum
May 01 2015
FODMs has joined the newly formed Tyne & Wear Heritage Forum (TWHF).
Challenger 2 - Main Battle Tank
Mar 01 2015
Discovery Museum has a spectacular new outdoor exhibit
Arcs and Sparks
Feb 01 2015
Last November FODMs helped the Discovery Science and Industry team to buy some new demonstration equipment for the Arcs & Sparks project.
New FODMs Office for 2015
Jan 23 2015
Our new office at the far end of the Story of the Tyne gallery on the first floor is now up and running.