Tom Hughes
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tomtelltale.bsky.social
Tom Hughes
@tomtelltale.bsky.social
350 followers 570 following 100 posts
Passionate about museums, community heritage, storytelling, stone circles, medieval history, folklore, and bagpipes.
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tomtelltale.bsky.social
Reflecting on some of the fantastic community projects I've been lucky to be involved in during my time with D&G Museums. It's been a pleasure to introduce young people to their local heritage, work with our Ukrainian community settling in the region, help families learn together, and lots more.
A picture of a group of visitors handling folklore items in Dumfries Museum at the start of a history of witchcraft tour. A photograph of Ukrainian families standing on steps outside Dumfries Museum following a tour of the building. A photograph of a group of schoolchildren touring the churchyard at St Michael's in Dumfries. It is raining and they have umbrellas and coat hoods up.
November 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Just thinking how grateful I am to the @museumsassociation.org for all their support when I needed it, the learning opportunities, and the chance to be part of a wonderful network of inspiring and progressive people.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RNq...
MA membership: your sector, your association
YouTube video by Museums Association
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Heading home from an absolutely brilliant day today at the @museumsassociation.org reps meeting in Birmingham. I'm really pleased to be a part of this wonderful organisation and helping to support our members in Scotland. It was great to explore the new Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery too.
A photograph of people looking at artworks in the round gallery of Birmingham Museum. A photograph of the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum. A photograph of people exploring 'The Elephant in the Room' display at Birmingham Museum.
July 15, 2025 at 8:06 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
It's that day again... Happy Bastille Day with bagpipes.
A cartoon of a French bagpiper wearing a tricolore cockade and making puppet figures of the church and state dance whilst figures storm the Bastille in the background.
July 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Summer solstice sunrise at the Twelve Apostles.
June 21, 2025 at 4:26 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
As it's National Volunteer Week, a big thank you to all who volunteer their time and efforts to make this world a better place. Appreciating you year round, not just this week.
June 2, 2025 at 7:15 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
If you're a Museums Association member in Scotland, do try to join us for a @museumsassociation.org members gathering at The Hunterian in Glasgow on Monday 30th June. You can get details and book a free place here... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/museums-as...
Museums Association Scotland Members Meet-up
Gathering for MA members across Scotland - tour, talk and catch-up at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow
www.eventbrite.co.uk
May 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Just realised this was 15 years ago today, at the lovely medieval church beside Hailes Abbey with my friend Richard York. Sometimes I forget how long I have been sharing medieval pilgrimage living history, piping and storytelling.
A photograph of two bagpipers wearing medieval clothing in a churchyard. There is a medieval style tent in the background.
May 17, 2025 at 7:37 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Thrilled to have my article on using objects in live interpretation featured in the new Journal of the Association for Heritage Interpretation especially as the AHI celebrate their 50th anniversary.
A photograph of the AHI journal open on the page of the article. There is a picture of Tom Hughes in Victorian costume holding the a "witch bottle" and talking to a group gathering for a guided tour.
May 15, 2025 at 7:58 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
I've just been sent the pictures of me and fellow AMA awardees as we received our certificates at last year's MA conference. I'm already looking forward to this year's conference at the lovely St Fagan’s National History Museum. Hope to see you there! www.museumsassociation.org/events/confe...
A photograph of seven people standing on a conference stage ready to receive their Associateship of the Museums Association certificates.
April 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Happy St Patrick's Day with bagpipes.
An engraving of a bagpiper playing for dancing outside an inn. The original caption says St Patrick's Day
March 17, 2025 at 7:31 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Happy International Bagpipe Day!
A montage of medieval pictures of pigs playing bagpipes. Including a wall painting, pewter badge, painted glass, stone carving, manuscript illustrations, and wood carving. Text reads Happy International Pig Bagpipe Day, with the word pig crossed out.
March 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
A wee snippet in the Museums Journal. The AMA was such a fantastic process, really changing my outlook on life as well as developing skills. Totally recommend this to anyone working in museums. The @museumsassociation.org have been so supportive throughout, it's great to work with them.
A photograph of a clipping from the Museums Journal with a headset photograph of Tom Hughes and a quote, "Working with colleagues across the sector has helped develop my understanding of the profession. The sense of fellowship and support from peers kept me inspired and motivated. After over two decades in museums, I'd wondered whether it was worth starting the AMA. I needn't have doubted it - it's been one of the highlights of my career."
March 7, 2025 at 6:41 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
A World Book Day reflection. I've always enjoyed tales of fools. This is the only one of Alan Garner's books I remember reading as a child. Many years later, I was honoured to be given an original hardback edition by Alan after we talked about how the book had sowed the seeds of storytelling in me.
A photograph of a paperback copy of 'The Guizer' by Alan Garner. It features a fool dressed in animal skins running under a crescent moon. A photograph of an inscription in the book by Alan Garner reading "More know Tom Fool than Tom Fool knows. From Alan, Blackden, 4.VII.09
March 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Had a brilliant day at the @museumsassociation.org Scotland members gathering in Perth. Lovely to be among so many progressive colleagues and to enjoy lots of inspiring presentations. In difficult times with lots of challenges for the sector, I left feeling positive and hopeful.
March 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Reposted by Tom Hughes
cruckcottage.bsky.social
A clyack or corn dolly by the hanging lum in the cottage. The Scots word clyack is derived from Gaelic cailleach meaning hag. These woven straw figures were thought to keep the spirit of the corn safe through the winter. We're exploring lots of folklore throughout this year at the Cruck Cottage.
A photograph of a long woven corn dolly with red ribbon, hanging from a pair of fallow deer antlers on the wattle-and-daub chimney in the Cruck Cottage.
March 4, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Tom Hughes
cruckcottage.bsky.social
We continue to stand with Ukraine. We've been so pleased to welcome Ukrainian friends several times in recent months. We will always be in solidarity.
Photograph of Ukrainian friends outside the Cruck Cottage. Photograph of Ukrainian friends inside the Cruck Cottage, as we welcomed them with an evening of Scottish traditions.
March 1, 2025 at 7:26 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
No to bullies. Always in solidarity. No to appeasement.
Ukrainian flag with text I stand with Ukraine.
March 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Out at Sweetheart Abbey today, volunteering with the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust to tell the story of Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway.
A photograph of three people dressed in medieval clothing in front of the ruins of Sweetheart Abbey.
February 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Tom Hughes
cruckcottage.bsky.social
Something cheery for this dreich day... Here's our volunteer Bob playing tunes at our New Scots kitchen ceilidh in the cottage for our Ukrainian friends last weekend.
February 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
I'm very honoured to have been chosen to be one of the @museumsassociation.org reps for Scotland. Such a great organisation, their campaigns truly do change lives for the better. I'm really looking forward to getting started on getting more people involved and supporting museums across the nation.
February 12, 2025 at 8:08 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Wow! I was only expecting about a dozen people for my medieval tour of Dumfries Museum today, but 71 people turned up! Clearly a lot of interest in the Robert the Bruce in Dumfries story.
A photograph of the main hall of Dumfries Museum full of visitors for the tour about to start. A photograph of myself with Liz West, chair of the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust standing in front of a museum display case with artefacts related to the Robert the Bruce story in Dumfries.
February 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
Much joy to you all this St Werburgh's day. May we all find ways to work with the natural world and restore what has been destroyed.
A photograph of a painted triptych standing on a bookshelf. The triptych has been painted in a medieval style and depicts St Werburgh with geese. She is holding a miniature abbey and in the background is tyd city of Chester of which she is patron. A photograph of a replica medieval pilgrim badge. It depicts wild geese in a sheep pen, one of the miracles of St Werburgh. A photograph of a medieval oak carving, part of a misericord in the choir stalls of Chester Cathedral. It shows St Werburgh penning in the wild geese, one of her miracles.
February 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
For this week's #StandingStoneSunday, here are some of the Nether Largie stones in Kilmartin Glen. Duncan Williamson said his Traveller family believed the stones would protect you when staying nearby, so long as you didn't touch them.
February 2, 2025 at 7:50 AM
tomtelltale.bsky.social
For #StandingStoneSunday, here's one of the magnificent Clava Cairns.
A photograph of a cairn of stones with large stones at its edge, surrounded by a ring of standing stones. There are large trees in the background.
January 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM