Members influencing the next generation
SS Great Britain member, volunteer and proud aunty, Maggie Aherne recounts the story of her nephew Joe's first interaction with the SS Great Britain and how it influenced his journey.
Beginning with a love of history
In 2007, nearly 20 years ago, my 9-year-old nephew Joe came to stay with me in the summer holidays. This was his first time staying away from his parents, so I was determined to make it a holiday to remember. We did lots! He’s always been interested in history, so I devised a Bristol History trail for us to do together.
Part of that, of course, was to visit the SS Great Britain, somewhere that the family would visit on every trip to Bristol and that I was so proud to show off to them as a Member. On this day, we were lucky enough to bump into none other than Mr Brunel himself, strolling on top deck. I encouraged Joe to go up and talk to him, and they had a great conversation. Proud Aunt took a photo! (I slightly regretted that Joe wasn’t wearing something smarter than his ‘Ow bist me babber’ Beast t-shirt…)
Following a passion
In the years that followed Joe went on to read History at university, by this time passionately interested in the Industrial Revolution and all things Brunel: his dissertation on the rivalry between
the broad and narrow gauges on the Great Western Railway earned him a First for that part of his degree. When he graduated he moved to Bristol and applied to work at the SS Great Britain – how wonderful!
After a couple of years working front of house, Joe was beginning to feel the itch to perform the role of Mr Brunel himself. He auditioned – but it wasn’t quite time. Some time after, he was encouraged to try again and this time he landed the role. Anyone who knows him, or visits the ship and watches him in action, agrees that he lives every breath of the role.
A warm reunion
One day in the summer of 2025 Joe was performing his Mr Brunel role with his usual aplomb, when a visitor introduced himself. It turns out that it was none other than Martin Williamson, the Mr Brunel who had engaged with 9-year-old Joe all those years earlier. Here he could see for himself the impact that he had had on that young boy. They recreated their original photo with a very warm handshake indeed.
One can only imagine how special this meeting was for both of them. Proud Aunt was delighted to see how her initial engagements with SS Great Britain had led to this happy moment. We Members can have great influence on the next generation!
Maggie Aherne
