Thackray Museum showcases gory surgical instruments on Blue Peter
On 24th February 2009, the Thackray Museum, Leeds made an appearance on the popular BBC children’s programme Blue Peter. One of the features explored Victorian surgery and the Thackray Museum supplied various gruesome surgical instruments for the show!
Jim Garretts, the museum’s Senior Curator, went down to the BBC television studios in London to watch the days filming. Jim said “It was a great thrill to participate in such a famous programme. I not only got to meet the presenters Helen, Andy and Joel, but also Lucy and Mabel, the Blue Peter dogs! As you can see, Andy turned away in shock when Joel (wearing white gloves, in proper curatorial fashion!) showed him our collection. Helen doesn't seem too amused either! It would be great to be involved again with the programme and hopefully we’ll get plenty of Blue Peter viewers coming to see us!”
The instruments that made an appearance on the programme included a Victorian skull saw, which was used (as you might guess) to saw through the human skull and also a tooth key, which, shaped like a corkscrew, was used to remove the toughest of teeth!
Those of you that own a Blue Peter badge can now get into the Thackray Museum for free! Simply bring your badge along to your next visit to the museum!
