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Remembering Lord Moser

It is with great sadness that we share with you news of the passing of Lord Moser, a Distinguished Friend of the Migration Museum Project, on 4 September 2015.

Portrait photograph of Lord Moser

Our Director Sophie Henderson shares this tribute:

We at the Migration Museum Project had the distinct good fortune to get to know Claus Moser when he became one of our distinguished friends, and supporters.

When we first introduced Claus to the idea of a Migration Museum for Britain – back in 2012 – and thought that realising such a huge ambition might take – at the very least – five years, his first response was to say “Why not do it in two?”. His energy and enthusiasm for our ideas were infectious and inspiring.  He was an utterly charming, but also terrifyingly acute and knowledgeable critic, observer and supporter of our plans.

One of the outstanding perks of my job was to have toasted tea-cakes with Claus in the House of Lords at regular intervals while we discussed ideas.  Our most engaging event featured an intimate conversation between Claus and Susie Harris at the Goethe-Institut in London late last year, in which Claus discussed his memories of 1930s Berlin, and his love of the cultured artistic and musical atmosphere, tempered by the extraordinary sight of a strutting Hitler whom he could literally see from his bedroom window.

Claus contributed to a film we made to accompany our exhibition about Germans in Britain, again reflecting fondly on nearly all things German, in particular their cakes.  It was an absolute privilege to have got to know Claus a little over the last few years, and his profound, witty, and warm contributions to the Migration Museum Project are ones that we shall treasure for ever.

Anna Sobolevska

Anna looks upwards smiling towards the sky, holding her Ukrainian mug.

Anna looks upwards smiling towards the sky, holding her Ukrainian mug.

Anna’s Keepsake carries connections with a person and a place…

This mug comes from Ukraine and it was given to me by my daughter. It reminds me of my country which I had to leave to find work and a home in England.

Return to Keepsakes gallery

Sunil Doshi

Pupil in uniform holds wooden giraffe in corridor of school.

Pupil in uniform holds wooden giraffe in corridor of school.

Sunil’s giraffe connects him with Kenya.

My family originate from Kenya and every year I go and visit them. This giraffe was handmade there and I brought it back and keep it in my bedroom at home because it reminds me of where I come from and it also brings good luck.

Return to Keepsakes gallery

The Irish Post visits Adopting Britain

James Mulhall, reporter for the Irish Post, was shown around the Adopting Britain exhibition at the Southbank Centre recently by Andrew Steeds, MMP project manager. His review of the exhibition (Tuesday 25 August) has a clear focus on the section of the exhibition looking at Irish immigration into England, for which the Archive of the Irish in Britain was centrally responsible, but an equally clear enthusiasm for the larger ambition of the Migration Museum Project.

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Photograph of the display of artefacts from the Archive of the Irish in Britain