Culture supremo Redmond takes up new ‘job of a lifetime’ at waterfront museum

Aug 5 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

Phil Redmond,founder of Mersey Television _320

AN ICONIC Liverpool figure has taken up his post as the new chairman of National Museums Liverpool.

Culture supremo and Brookside creator Phil Redmond was welcomed into the new job yesterday by director David Fleming.

His four-year position was announced by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham last month.

Mr Redmond said: "As a Scouser, this job has got to be a lifetime achievement for me. As a child, I didn’t think that’s what I want to be when I grow up, but I now appreciate the value of culture and museums.

"Our museums are part of the fabric of Liverpool and I’m excited about the new museum on the waterfront.

"It’s a fantastic building, world-class, and we need to stop arguing about the wrong things and as chairman I’ll be bigging up the building."

He added: "I’ve had a long relationship with NML but always as a guest, I’m look- ing forward to meeting the staff and getting in the cup- boards, behind the scenes and seeing what’s going on, the nitty-gritty of the place.

"NML is about looking out at Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and saying our collections here are fantastic and you don’t have to leave the city or go to London to see them. I’m very keen through my work with the Culture Company that we should work together as a city with NML, working alongside the Tate and other museum's to create a cultural package for Liverpool."

His first week will be spent visiting all the organisation’s venues meeting staff to gain an insight into the work carried out not only in public spaces, and also in the stores and conservation centre.

Mr Redmond and his wife, Alexis, have long-standing links with NML, and Alexis sits on the board of trustees.

Both are major benefactors of NML and give their ser- vices on an honorary basis for which they receive no remuneration.

David Fleming, director of NML, said: "Phil is com- ing along at an exciting time, it is flattering he has taken the post. He is an iconic figure in Liverpool and a major player outside the city across the country.

"He will have a supportive role and will bring a lot of creative thinking and into our programme, he will complement what we’re doing and offer encouragement to where we want to go next."

laurasharpe@dailypost.co.uk