HomePeoplePeople MovesSir Peter Hendy CBE appointed Chair of National Railway Museum’s Advisory Board

Sir Peter Hendy CBE appointed Chair of National Railway Museum’s Advisory Board

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Network Rail Chair Sir Peter Hendy CBE has been appointed Chair of the National Railway Museum’s Advisory Board to spearhead delivery of the Museum’s Vision 2025 masterplan. 

Outgoing Chair Anton Valk CBE, founding CEO of transport company Abellio, will step down from the museum’s Advisory Board. 

The appointment comes at an important phase in the museum’s Vision 2025 masterplan which will see the creation of a new Central Hall as well as widespread transformation across the site. 

Sir Peter will provide strategic guidance and strengthen the museum’s ties with the rail industry – seen most recently through collaborative exhibitions such as Railway Heroes. Launched in February 2021, this celebrates the work of rail key workers during the pandemic. 

Sir Peter said: “As well as caring for the nation’s collection of railway heritage, the National Railway Museum has a brilliant opportunity to become a great place for people to learn about today’s railways. With developments such as Central Hall’s ‘Futures Gallery’, the new interactive Wonderlab, and other temporary exhibitions, the rail industry is starting to see the museum as a significant resource for engaging and inspiring the next generation of engineers and operators and showcasing ground-breaking British 21st century technology.

“My priority as Chair will be to oversee the development of Vision 2025, and to ensure that Flying Scotsman’s centenary year in 2023 and the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway are truly nationwide celebrations.” 

Under Sir Peter’s guidance, the museum will develop a new exhibition at the National Railway Museum and at Locomotion called Innovation Platform. This will focus on giving excited museum visitors access to ground-breaking new objects from the contemporary rail industry. Starting in June 2022, the project will last for two years and exhibit a number of significant objects.

Sir Peter was appointed to the Science Museum Group’s Board of Trustees in 2018.

Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said: “I want to thank Anton Valk for his unwavering commitment to this museum over the past few years. We have very ambitious plans for the museum through Vision 2025 especially, to become an integral part of how the industry engages young people with the future of the railways. I know that Sir Peter will keep us focussed on this goal, keep us sharp and help us to take every opportunity that presents itself.” 

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