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Dame Margaret Weston obituary
First female director of a national museum who broke new ground by taking cultural treasures to the entire country
Dame Margaret Weston, the then director of the Science Museum, in 1979. Photograph: Photoshot/Getty Images
Dame Margaret Weston, the then director of the Science Museum, in 1979. Photograph: Photoshot/Getty Images
RogerHighfield
Mon 18 Jan 2021 11.40 EST
Last modified on Thu 25 Feb 2021 04.09 EST
Dame Margaret Weston, who has died aged 94, was the first woman in the UK to run a national museum and a pioneer when it came to sharing cultural treasures with the entire country. While director of the Science Museum, from 1973 to 1986, she opened the National Railway Museum in York, the first national museum outside London, where today a miniature steam train used by visitors is named after her.
DAME Margaret Weston, who played a key part in creating the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, now Media Museum, has passed away at the age of 94. On June 16, 1983, Lord Snowden and National Science Museum director Dame Margaret formally opened the Bradford museum. Dame Margaret became the first female director of a National Museum, and oversaw a significant expansion of the Science Museum during her tenure from 1973-1986. Jo Quinton-Tulloch, director of the National Science and Media Museum, said: “We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Margaret Weston. Dame Margaret was instrumental in establishing our museum in Bradford, launching as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in 1983.