Hellen Pethers
@ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Researcher Services Librarian
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
🏛️ Natural History Museum, London.
❤️ paper, ephemera, pangolins, cats, genealogy, social media & serendipity!
Very proud Mum & Auntie. West Sussex.
MY VIEWS
Previously on Twitter @ohreallyhells
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
🏛️ Natural History Museum, London.
❤️ paper, ephemera, pangolins, cats, genealogy, social media & serendipity!
Very proud Mum & Auntie. West Sussex.
MY VIEWS
Previously on Twitter @ohreallyhells
Our family don’t have many family history objects and this medal being on a dealers website has been really bothering me. It was time to bring it back into the family fold.
So today 1/3 each is now owned by my Mum,y daughter and myself. His great, 2x great and 3x great nieces!! ❤️ #AncestryHour
So today 1/3 each is now owned by my Mum,y daughter and myself. His great, 2x great and 3x great nieces!! ❤️ #AncestryHour
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Our family don’t have many family history objects and this medal being on a dealers website has been really bothering me. It was time to bring it back into the family fold.
So today 1/3 each is now owned by my Mum,y daughter and myself. His great, 2x great and 3x great nieces!! ❤️ #AncestryHour
So today 1/3 each is now owned by my Mum,y daughter and myself. His great, 2x great and 3x great nieces!! ❤️ #AncestryHour
Yesterday, 11/11 in the post came a medal I saw a year ago on a dealers website. It’s not rare or special medal.
But it’s important to me - awarded posthumously to mum’s Grt Uncle, Jabez Buckley (1886-1915), we know little about and have no photo of, he stepped off a ship in Gallipoli and died.
But it’s important to me - awarded posthumously to mum’s Grt Uncle, Jabez Buckley (1886-1915), we know little about and have no photo of, he stepped off a ship in Gallipoli and died.
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Yesterday, 11/11 in the post came a medal I saw a year ago on a dealers website. It’s not rare or special medal.
But it’s important to me - awarded posthumously to mum’s Grt Uncle, Jabez Buckley (1886-1915), we know little about and have no photo of, he stepped off a ship in Gallipoli and died.
But it’s important to me - awarded posthumously to mum’s Grt Uncle, Jabez Buckley (1886-1915), we know little about and have no photo of, he stepped off a ship in Gallipoli and died.
@tomrosenthal.bsky.social thank you another completely moving, gripping and heart warming one 😍
Yesterday at a Remembrance parade I noticed a man with a long line of medals, shedding a tear. It is your influence that made me say hello & ask him to tell me about his medals & we chatted for 15mins x
Yesterday at a Remembrance parade I noticed a man with a long line of medals, shedding a tear. It is your influence that made me say hello & ask him to tell me about his medals & we chatted for 15mins x
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
@tomrosenthal.bsky.social thank you another completely moving, gripping and heart warming one 😍
Yesterday at a Remembrance parade I noticed a man with a long line of medals, shedding a tear. It is your influence that made me say hello & ask him to tell me about his medals & we chatted for 15mins x
Yesterday at a Remembrance parade I noticed a man with a long line of medals, shedding a tear. It is your influence that made me say hello & ask him to tell me about his medals & we chatted for 15mins x
Museums allow family historians like me to feel close to their ancestors.
My 3x great grandfather Anthony Holland Sodar (1817-99) went from driving a stage coach, to mail cart to omnibus. With little info about him, the London Transport Museum allows me to sit in a real omnibus and feel connected.
My 3x great grandfather Anthony Holland Sodar (1817-99) went from driving a stage coach, to mail cart to omnibus. With little info about him, the London Transport Museum allows me to sit in a real omnibus and feel connected.
October 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Museums allow family historians like me to feel close to their ancestors.
My 3x great grandfather Anthony Holland Sodar (1817-99) went from driving a stage coach, to mail cart to omnibus. With little info about him, the London Transport Museum allows me to sit in a real omnibus and feel connected.
My 3x great grandfather Anthony Holland Sodar (1817-99) went from driving a stage coach, to mail cart to omnibus. With little info about him, the London Transport Museum allows me to sit in a real omnibus and feel connected.
When your pangolin wardrobe choice aligns with a reading room visitor requesting to see a volume of bound artwork, which includes a pangolin 😍
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #Artwork #TeamPangolin
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #Artwork #TeamPangolin
October 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
When your pangolin wardrobe choice aligns with a reading room visitor requesting to see a volume of bound artwork, which includes a pangolin 😍
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #Artwork #TeamPangolin
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #Artwork #TeamPangolin
I’m not a huge Christmas decoration person, but Festive Dippy tugged on my heart strings 😍
October 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I’m not a huge Christmas decoration person, but Festive Dippy tugged on my heart strings 😍
I love the beauty, colour and texture of autumn 🍂 ❤️
Very lucky to have Nymans National Trust next door. #NymansNT @nationaltrust.org.uk
Very lucky to have Nymans National Trust next door. #NymansNT @nationaltrust.org.uk
October 7, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I love the beauty, colour and texture of autumn 🍂 ❤️
Very lucky to have Nymans National Trust next door. #NymansNT @nationaltrust.org.uk
Very lucky to have Nymans National Trust next door. #NymansNT @nationaltrust.org.uk
Library & Archives Open Day (free)
19 September 2025
When: 10.00 - 16.00
Where: Lasting Impressions Gallery (red zone)
Our team have developed four themed displays:
🐋 Whales, science and conservation
🌱 Ordering and naming nature
✏️ Writing from the field
❄️ Polar expeditions
#NaturalHistoryMuseum
19 September 2025
When: 10.00 - 16.00
Where: Lasting Impressions Gallery (red zone)
Our team have developed four themed displays:
🐋 Whales, science and conservation
🌱 Ordering and naming nature
✏️ Writing from the field
❄️ Polar expeditions
#NaturalHistoryMuseum
September 12, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Library & Archives Open Day (free)
19 September 2025
When: 10.00 - 16.00
Where: Lasting Impressions Gallery (red zone)
Our team have developed four themed displays:
🐋 Whales, science and conservation
🌱 Ordering and naming nature
✏️ Writing from the field
❄️ Polar expeditions
#NaturalHistoryMuseum
19 September 2025
When: 10.00 - 16.00
Where: Lasting Impressions Gallery (red zone)
Our team have developed four themed displays:
🐋 Whales, science and conservation
🌱 Ordering and naming nature
✏️ Writing from the field
❄️ Polar expeditions
#NaturalHistoryMuseum
Well that was a fun evening watching David O’Doherty and Max Rushden recording their podcast ‘Who Did You Do Yesterday’. Special (return) guest Nish Kumar. One of my favourite podcasts 😍
A lot of laughter! Shared box for 3 strangers, we all had a fab time!
#WhatDidYouDoYesterday #HackneyEmpire
A lot of laughter! Shared box for 3 strangers, we all had a fab time!
#WhatDidYouDoYesterday #HackneyEmpire
September 11, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Well that was a fun evening watching David O’Doherty and Max Rushden recording their podcast ‘Who Did You Do Yesterday’. Special (return) guest Nish Kumar. One of my favourite podcasts 😍
A lot of laughter! Shared box for 3 strangers, we all had a fab time!
#WhatDidYouDoYesterday #HackneyEmpire
A lot of laughter! Shared box for 3 strangers, we all had a fab time!
#WhatDidYouDoYesterday #HackneyEmpire
In the 50p charity bookstall - would
have been rude not to.
#WorldWarTwo #Gardening #BuySecondhand #Books
have been rude not to.
#WorldWarTwo #Gardening #BuySecondhand #Books
August 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
In the 50p charity bookstall - would
have been rude not to.
#WorldWarTwo #Gardening #BuySecondhand #Books
have been rude not to.
#WorldWarTwo #Gardening #BuySecondhand #Books
An old finger post where all the destinations are country pubs. (Singleton, Sussex)
The original local pub crawl guide!
The original local pub crawl guide!
August 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
An old finger post where all the destinations are country pubs. (Singleton, Sussex)
The original local pub crawl guide!
The original local pub crawl guide!
Alfred Waterhouse, architect of the #NaturalHistoryMuseum also designed the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester (formerly Refuge Assurance Building), along with his son, Paul.
I went and took a look today. Beautiful!
I went and took a look today. Beautiful!
July 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Alfred Waterhouse, architect of the #NaturalHistoryMuseum also designed the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester (formerly Refuge Assurance Building), along with his son, Paul.
I went and took a look today. Beautiful!
I went and took a look today. Beautiful!
Hellen needed to visit ‘Hellen’s Manor’ - my retirement pad?! #Herefordshire #HellensManor
July 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Hellen needed to visit ‘Hellen’s Manor’ - my retirement pad?! #Herefordshire #HellensManor
I spent some time studying the Cyprus Agricultural Journal in our collections today, from the early 1930s.
#Journals #Science #ModernCollections #Travel #Tourism #Advertising #Marketing
#Journals #Science #ModernCollections #Travel #Tourism #Advertising #Marketing
June 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I spent some time studying the Cyprus Agricultural Journal in our collections today, from the early 1930s.
#Journals #Science #ModernCollections #Travel #Tourism #Advertising #Marketing
#Journals #Science #ModernCollections #Travel #Tourism #Advertising #Marketing
Journals contain lots of information for those who love history, not just in the articles.
The adverts can tell us a lot about businesses, the history of brands / products, and life at that time.
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #NHMLibrary
The adverts can tell us a lot about businesses, the history of brands / products, and life at that time.
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #NHMLibrary
June 21, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Journals contain lots of information for those who love history, not just in the articles.
The adverts can tell us a lot about businesses, the history of brands / products, and life at that time.
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #NHMLibrary
The adverts can tell us a lot about businesses, the history of brands / products, and life at that time.
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #NHMLibrary
My favourite ‘other job’ for the last 11 years - Team leader for the NHM Kids Dinosnore sleep overs @nhm-london.bsky.social 😍
Although it is very warm in the museum for this one!
Although it is very warm in the museum for this one!
June 21, 2025 at 4:53 AM
My favourite ‘other job’ for the last 11 years - Team leader for the NHM Kids Dinosnore sleep overs @nhm-london.bsky.social 😍
Although it is very warm in the museum for this one!
Although it is very warm in the museum for this one!
I love spotting these double sided pub signs!
King Charles I (Northdown Street N1 9BL)
King Charles I (Northdown Street N1 9BL)
May 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I love spotting these double sided pub signs!
King Charles I (Northdown Street N1 9BL)
King Charles I (Northdown Street N1 9BL)
Interesting exhibition at the British Library ‘Unearthed: the power of gardening’.
Lots of items: books (old and new), manuscripts, ephemera and objects.
Some familiar items and people connected to the collections at the NHM and lots of interesting things to learn.
Lots of items: books (old and new), manuscripts, ephemera and objects.
Some familiar items and people connected to the collections at the NHM and lots of interesting things to learn.
May 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Interesting exhibition at the British Library ‘Unearthed: the power of gardening’.
Lots of items: books (old and new), manuscripts, ephemera and objects.
Some familiar items and people connected to the collections at the NHM and lots of interesting things to learn.
Lots of items: books (old and new), manuscripts, ephemera and objects.
Some familiar items and people connected to the collections at the NHM and lots of interesting things to learn.
Made my own insect house - rather chuffed! It started life as half a wooden wine box.
May 4, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Made my own insect house - rather chuffed! It started life as half a wooden wine box.
I love the lilac in my garden. At this time of year, I start my day with a cup of tea in my hand and lilac before my eyes. 😍
April 22, 2025 at 5:51 AM
I love the lilac in my garden. At this time of year, I start my day with a cup of tea in my hand and lilac before my eyes. 😍
March 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
March 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
So happy that Knepp isn’t far from me.
I love a late evening walk in the calming hug Knepp gives.
A lovely late afternoon walk around #Knepp.
✔️Bee flies
✔️Nesting storks
✔️Storks on the ground
✔️Wild ponies
✔️Longhorn
✔️Wildflowers
✔️Green woodpecker
✔️Spotted woodpecker
✔️Treecreeper
I love a late evening walk in the calming hug Knepp gives.
A lovely late afternoon walk around #Knepp.
✔️Bee flies
✔️Nesting storks
✔️Storks on the ground
✔️Wild ponies
✔️Longhorn
✔️Wildflowers
✔️Green woodpecker
✔️Spotted woodpecker
✔️Treecreeper
March 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
So happy that Knepp isn’t far from me.
I love a late evening walk in the calming hug Knepp gives.
A lovely late afternoon walk around #Knepp.
✔️Bee flies
✔️Nesting storks
✔️Storks on the ground
✔️Wild ponies
✔️Longhorn
✔️Wildflowers
✔️Green woodpecker
✔️Spotted woodpecker
✔️Treecreeper
I love a late evening walk in the calming hug Knepp gives.
A lovely late afternoon walk around #Knepp.
✔️Bee flies
✔️Nesting storks
✔️Storks on the ground
✔️Wild ponies
✔️Longhorn
✔️Wildflowers
✔️Green woodpecker
✔️Spotted woodpecker
✔️Treecreeper
March 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Spring blue sky mornings are my favourite walks to work. You never know what you’ll see! #LondonStreets #Spring
March 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Spring blue sky mornings are my favourite walks to work. You never know what you’ll see! #LondonStreets #Spring