10/12/2012 Inside Out West

Hello from Bristol where we are investigating what went wrong at

the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum. Tonight, we uncover the

controversial sale of artefacts loaned to the museum, and the

struggle of some private owners to get them back. I contacted the

museum, and asked could we have the painting back and unfortunately,

they said no. We subsequently discovered it had been sold by

Christies on behalf of the museum. We hear from the former museum

researcher who helped set up some of the loans and donations. When

you surrender objects from their historical context like this, you

might as well just burn a pile of national documents. It is the same

act of vandalism. Also tonight, we tell the remarkable story of one

man's quest to become the first ever paraplegic motorcyclist to

It doesn't always go to plan, does I'm Alastair McKee and this is

It opened 10 years ago as the country's first major institution

to tell the story of Britain's colonial past. Tonight, an Inside

Out investigation explores just what went on at the former British

Empire and Commonwealth Museum. We discover artefacts entrusted to the

museum sold in mysterious circumstances. And we reveal what

happens now to what's left of a collection so important to

It was an award-winning Museum in Preston about the British Empire

and the Commonwealth. Heralded as the first of its kind in the

country. It is now closed amidst allegations that some of its

treasures were sold. They didn't have a proper stock check and maybe

somebody in the museum went off piste. More than 140 artifacts on

loan here are still unaccounted for. We had betrayed our donors in this

way and the people who had backed us don't -- financially.

investigate what went on and what Boxed up and ready for their new

home. These are up salvaged reminders of our imperial past.

What are we looking at here? This is a Nigerian man's gown. This

heavy embroidery all over the front with the local symbols. As well as

the costumes and artefacts, there are thousands of photographs, a

treasure trove of a past that shapes and divides Britain today.

They capture colonial life from the every day to the downright bizarre.

There's more than 400 hours of home movies from Englishman abroad,

picnicking in Bombay in 1930 or market life in 1950s Ghana. The

photos, films, the artefacts, all now in the care of the city council

at a secret location. They were transferred from the British arm --

British Empire and Commonwealth Museum. It closed in 2008. The

museum director was dismissed. helped persuade people to give up

valuable family connections to the museum and I was aghast that we had

betrayed our donors in this way and also the people who had backed us

financially and who had put their Netcom the line to support as

politically. After seven years of hard work, but museum was opened by

royalty in 2002 without a penny of public funding. Five years later,

its showpiece was an exhibition on slavery. Strong minds bring a

strong change. It was attended by Jesse Jackson. Our story begins

with this painting of a 19th century trading ship, the Dunira.

It was sold in 2008 for more than �61,000. It belonged to the

Caldicot family. We asked Lord Caldecott to the Clifton Arcade.

His grandfather was MP for the area. We have a picture of it here.

Reacquaint yourself with it. It is a magnificent picture. In the

process of setting it up in our parents' estate, we discovered this

picture had been lent to the British and Commonwealth Museum. I

contacted them and asked if we could have the painting back.

Unfortunately, they said, no, this painting was given to the museum

and we have discovered it was sold by Christie's on behalf of the

museum. I said it wasn't right because we have a document here

showing that it was on loan. Who is to blame? The museum because they

didn't have a proper stock check and maybe somebody in the museum

went off piste rather than followed all the correct procedures.

Government of Madeira bought the painting as the island is pictured

in the background. They said they didn't know the connection to the

museum all the family. The museum director was this man, Gareth

Griffiths. Company accounts said he had done -- had undertaken

unauthorised transactions. He was dismissed last year. No one was

arrested or charged. The story doesn't held with the Dunira. It

crosses the continents, he to Christchurch in New Zealand. The

director of unapt Gallery at -- art gallery here took an interest in a

statuette. I was asked by one of our curators to go and have a look

at it with a view to purchasing a it. It had been drawn to his

attention by another dealer in London. I was travelling on my way

to Europe and was bare and he asked me to look at it. I did. It was a

facsimile of the smaller image of the sculpture of John Robert Godley

there were standing in Cathedral Square and to we had an earthquake.

-- entail. This is the statuette. John Robert Godley founded

Christchurch. We suspected that it was the Virgin of the sculpture

that had been given by the people Christchurch to the Imperial Museum.

-- it was the version. I have been looking into the statuette and it

was part of their collection now was given to the museum by the

Commonwealth Institute. Gareth Griffiths agreed he would get rid

of any of it to raise money. This was as part of an accreditation

scheme the museum withdrew from the three years later. The Metropolitan

Police were called in on us. They investigated allegations that the

statuette and other items were being sold by a London dealer.

Gareth Griffiths, the dealer said, had told him the museum was

entitled to sell them that he wasn't to tell anyone where they

came from because it would be politically embarrassing. Gareth

Griffiths declined to be interviewed but the chairman of the

museum trustees, former chairman of English Heritage, has agreed to

talk to us. Gareth Griffiths said in 2011 that any objects were

disclosed off with the knowledge and agreement of the trustees with

the receipts are fully audited. What to make of that? That isn't

the case. There was no authorisation atoll of any of the

material that went to the London dealer. -- at all. These are items

that went from a possession without the knowledge or the authority of

the trustees and a large part of the time the trustees have been

spending since the director was dismissed, have been trying to get

to the bottom of those issues. report says the dealer took 150

items and pay the museum �115,000. He has declined to comment but has

returned some items including the Godley statuette. They concluded

this was a civil matter. Any suggestion that he profited from

the disposal would be rigorously defended. Given the met has said

this is a it civil matter and no criminal charges were brought upon

Gareth Griffiths, he is in a clear, isn't he? If I come back to the

Dunira picture, he suspected where the proceeds from the sale went and

that is an action which is Items are being traced and deals

struck. This lintel believed to be part of the Commonwealth Institute

collection ended up in private hands but it is expected to be

returned soon to the people of New Zealand. It was a gift from New

Zealand to the British at a certain stage. While we probably give

William and Kate a coat of Coventry Bees days, we gave important gifts

Sales began earlier than people have previously thought. The people

who sponsored these statues were often from the former colonies like

the Malaysian Government sponsored one from raffles. You have a window

and the howl emerging colonies wanted to see themselves, how they

wanted to see themselves in Britain. Gareth Griffiths told us financial

pressures had increased over many years and questioned whether the

museum Trust had met its responsibilities. He said the

Trust's viability and fundraising had to be examined and claimed the

Trust had ceased to provide a public benefit when the focus

changed to running an event's venue. The trustees said they had provided

an educational outreach programme. Do you think the trustees are

blameless in all of this? I don't believe the trustees are to blame

for having their eye off the ball because the role of trustees in a

museum like this is to oversee strategy and broad policy and, in

that sense, I think they have been both responsible and conscientious.

The difficulty is that trustees are not generally speaking in the day-

to-day management and operation of the enterprise for which they are

trustees. And in our case we delegated to a responsible, paid

director with some staff and all the indications were that this was

a professional doing a professional We may never know exactly what was

sold or disposed of legitimately. The museum trustees are aware of

144 unaccounted for items from eight lenders, but wouldn't say

what those items were. I was hoping the council would have more answers.

They've been looking through the material for months, but they've

nothing to compare to, as the whole collection hadn't been audited

before. A whole mass of stuff came together once that museum was

established a lot of different institutions and a lot of different

people gave it and loaned it different artefacts and the work of

bringing it together, auditing it, archiving it I think was an on-

going piece of work for them. much might be missing? The audit of

the objects is complete. All the loans, items that are on loan, have

gone back to their owners because we have a policy not to take on the

loans, the material within the archive, there is no list for. So,

as far as we're concerned, the material that we've received is the

collection. The council and the museum trustees

are pleased the collection will remain in Bristol and that much of

it will go on display alongside the city's other treasures. We had our

wonderful Royal visit with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and we

were able to show film from the Commonwealth, their visits to

different parts of the world, which was fantastic, and also images from

the collection we used to play back to them moments of their life.

As we develop the City Museum and Art Gallery which, you know, is

truly a treasure trove and also a universal museum offer, we will be

able to redisplay the collections using our own world collections to

tell people about the world in The painting, the Godley statuette,

the Maori pare - just three pieces in the puzzle of what went missing

from this Aladdin's cave of treasures. Each item, from

coloniser or colonised, tells a different story about a time when

the sun never set on British soil. Some stories which may now be lost

forever. The former Commonwealth Institute, which gifted thousands

of items, told us it was shocked by what had happened in Bristol. The

museum wanted to be the first in this country to address our

colonial past. In the end it helped dismantle an integral part of it.

When you sunder objects from their historical context like this, you

might as well just burn a pile of national documents. It is the same

act of vandalism. After this summer's extraordinary Paralympic

Games, it's hard to imagine there are still some sports out there

that can't accommodate disabled people. Tonight we follow a man,

himself a Paralympian, and his struggle to take part in an able-

It's race weekend at Snetterton circuit and determined to join

these riders out on the race track is a man who lost the use of his

legs on a motorcycle. For the last two years, Inside Out West cameras

have followed Talan Skeels-Piggins on his quest to become the first

ever paraplegic motorcyclist to take part in an able-bodied race.

It's not just me that wants to race. There are lots of other wheelchair

users who used to ride bikes. They want to get back to riding and

racing. But even for a competent rider like Talan, just getting to

the start line will be a long and At Castle Combe near Chippenham

bikers of all abilities are about to experience what it's like to

ride a real-life racing circuit. Among them is Talan. For him, the

typical challenges that come with high-speed riding are only half the

story. A motorcycle accident in 2003 shattered his back and severed

his spinal cord leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

Since then, Talan has enjoyed success in a number of sports. As a

skier he took part in the 2010 winter Paralympics. But motorcycle

racing will be his biggest Before riding again, a number of

major obstacles have had to be overcome. Simple stuff, like

changing gear is usually done with a foot-pedal. I can't use the bike

as an able-bodied rider because I can't move my legs. I've had to

adapt it with what they call a gear-shifter. Now a switch on the

handle-bars activates a piston which pushes the gear pedal.

Unfortunately, it's a modification that isn't officially allowed in

motorcycle racing. Once he's into his leathers, he's heaved onto the

bike. His feet are tucked into stirrups and his knees attached to

Velcro straps. Now, I'm pretty much balanced on the bike though I've

got no stomach muscles with the leathers and the straps I'm pretty

Out on the track at Castle Combe, Talan's lack of mobility disappears.

In order to be given a race licence Talan has got to prove that he's

both fast enough and safe enough to Despite Talan's speed on the bike,

one racing regulation he still struggles to meet is staying

upright when the bike comes to a halt. So, he's enlisted the help of

an engineering student at Bath University to build some

retractable stabilizers. Today he's testing them out for the first time.

Bit nervous. Just the starting and the stopping. I've been so used to

have someone behind me to guide me. If it all goes wrong this time,

I'll fall over on to my side. At the moment when I need to come to a

stop they just get on to the grass because that is a softer landing.

With the stabilizers engaged, it's the moment of truth. The stand is

removed. As soon as he releases the clutch, the bike moves off and the

stabilizers lift. It's worked. Coming to a halt again, the

stabilizers do just what they're That's quite scary. You have to be

sure that have come up before you start leaving -- leaning over. I'd

better give it another go! This time Talan lifts the stabilizers,

but has failed to put the bike in gear. He's OK, but it's a startling

reminder of just how vulnerable he is when things go wrong. It doesn't

always go to plan, does it? I've found a way of not doing it. I

A week later, a little bruised but full of confidence, Talan has come

to Darley Moor race track in Derbyshire. Today he must convince

the Auto-Cycle Union, or ACU, to grant him a race licence ahead of

his first competition in just two months' time. If everything goes

according to plan, then it'll be 4th September and Castle Combe will

be the first race. First the various modifications to Talan's

bike are checked by the ACU's technical director. Once he's happy,

Talan is examined out on the track by an ACU riding coach. It was

better than I was expecting. He picked the line up very quickly. I

have seen riders at club level slower than that. I am really

priest. -- I'm impressed and pleased with how it went then.

Talan has impressed the judges. It's all looking good for his first

race. I think you are going to be in business. I can't believe it.

It's fantastic. I have had a great time out and the track. They have

given me the green light, I can't wait to go ahead. Back at home,

with his first race now just a week away, Talan has received the all-

important letter from the ACU. But it's not the news he's expecting.

They have decided not to approve my application for a race licence in

competition where the race is a mass start, which is exactly what I

want to do, compete against other motorcyclists. It seems that even

though the ACU is happy with his general riding, some of its members

simply regard Talan as too much of a risk. I had my hand shaken until

me I was in business. It is a massive setback. Talan's impasse

with the ACU rolls on for another two years, but he never stops

campaigning, determined that his It's Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk.

With the backing of a major racing club, Talan has at last managed to

convince the ACU to let him race. It has been a very emotional time

for me. To be so close and then to just have everything taken away and

then to just keep on having to fight the cause, at times you think

this might be too much, it's just never going to happen and you look

to give up. But I suppose I'm not the sort of person who likes to

take things lying down. Down below us, Talan Skeels Piggins,

remember, parpalysed from the chest down. As the bikes line up, Talan,

at the ACU's insistence, is starting from the pit lane,

Crossing the start line, Talan becomes the first ever paraplegic

person to take part in an able- After two laps Talan has already

overtaken two other bikes. And it At the chequered flag, Talan

finishes in a credible 21st place out 29 starters. In the pit-lane

he's given a hero's welcome. He's Slightly emotional coming around, I

must admit! A I was that? absolutely incredible. Thank you

very much. Unbelievable, to be involved in a real race, it was the

most fantastic feeling to be out there. Hopefully, it will show that

there will be so many opportunities for people to go out there and do

what they want to do. The obstacles come down and when the to the hard

work makes it so worthwhile. Just Well, that's just about it for this

week, but before we go, here's a look at the stories coming up on

next week's programme: With two new nuclear power stations planned for

the West of England and the closure of the ageing Hinkely B powerplant

now delayed by seven years, we ask what thought has been given to an

evacuation plan in the event of a accident.

There was a huge reluctance in the industry to get into any kind of

discussion on the shoe shoe. You can't have an evacuation plan that

is going to work in this people know what they're supposed to do.

Also, 22 years on from the murder of Joanna Parrish in France, still

Take a flight from Filton Airfield as it enters its last week as an

operational runway. We ask why it has to close and whether the city's

aerospace industry can survive without it. That's all next week.

In the meantime, if you would like to keep in touch with what we are