1. INSIDEstaff newsletter November 2009
Inside ‘The Story of Chocolate’ brings sweet
temptation to our museum
‘The Story of
C
andy bars, milk
shakes, cookies,
Chocolate’
flavoured coffee
Page 1/2 – even cereal
and medicine! Chocolate
Welcome back, is a key ingredient in many
‘Black George’! foods.
We tend to think of
Page 1/4
chocolate as a sweet candy
created during modern
Discounted access times. But actually, humans
to Bannatyne’s have been fascinated with
Health Club this delicious phenomenon
for thousands of years.
Page 2
In fact, it ranks as the
favourite flavour of most UK
‘Minnies & Mickies’ residents – we consume
comes to the aid a quarter of all Europe’s
of all women chocolate!
employees ‘The Story of Chocolate’ Chocolate’s roots in museum, the ancient
Page 3 ancient Mesoamerica masterpiece was stored in
In a unique collaboration the archive of the British
with Cadbury, our museum The Maya and their
Employee hosts Europe’s first ancestors were the first to
Library until now. The
codex from the 14th century,
Spotlight chocolate exhibition. ‘The turn the bitter seeds into showing Mixtec kings
Page 3 Story of Chocolate’, open a spicy drink for use in consuming chocolate, will
through 5th April 2010, ceremonies and trade. for the first time be opened
takes visitors on a journey Cacao was coveted by
Healthy eating to the public within this
through the history of other cultures and soon
during cold and flu a confectionary which became a valuable article
exhibition.
season is indulged in so many of trade in the Aztec culture A European sweet
Page 4 different variations. in 16th -century Mexico. An
All the chocolate we interactive and authentic Europe’s first contact
eat comes from one rather Aztec marketplace shows with chocolate came
‘Taste Chocolate’ during the conquest
special plant which seeds visitors the purchasing
Weeks started it all – the cacao power of a handful of beans. of Mexico in 1521.The
Page 4 tree. But the journey from Among several other Spaniards recognized the
seed to sweet is a long one, pre-Columbian ceramics value attached to cacao,
spanning many centuries and ritual objects, the brought it home and began
and requiring numbers of historical Codex Zouche- sweetening it with sugar.
different and complicate Nuttall will be displayed.
processes. Acquired in 1917 by our continue on page 2
Welcome back, ‘Black George’!
The Metropolitan Police London has put was stolen from the British Museum almost
an end to a breath-taking game of cat-and- two weeks ago, has been authenticated
mouse: Last Friday, the famous Russian by art experts who examined it in a secret
painting of St George was recovered in a vault.
police raid at Heathrow Airport which led to
the arrest of two men. ‘Black George’, which continue on page 4

2. Discounted access to Bannatyne’s Health Club
There really is no excuse that you want, at a price available, the health club The next club is just
now! The staff health that’s right. offers you the flexibility to around the corner
questionnaire told us you With off peak and full become members with a
wanted to improve your membership packages as package that suits your The nearest Bannatyne’s
fitness levels and cheap well as with single, joint and personal circumstances. Health club is located at
staff memberships to a gym children’s memberships Russell Square. For further
which has facilities located information, membership
near to the British Museum, enquiries and club opening
so here it is! hours please visit the club’s
homepage.
Exceptional discount of
15% Bannatyne’s
Bannatyne’s Health Club, Health Club
the largest independently
owned health club operator
Cont@ct
in the UK offers a discount
32 Woburn Place,
corporate rate of 15% on Russell Square
all available membership London, WC1H 0JR
packages for staff of the Phone: +44 (0)20 72 91
British Museum. 65 00
Whatever your personal www.bannatyne.co.uk
situation, the club’s off Discount
peak and full membership 15% on all membership
packages will allow you to packages
access its facilities at a time
‘The Story of Chocolate Brings sweet temptation to our museum
continued from page 1 ‘Exhibition Celebration Events and workshops Are you up for
Party’
chocolate?
Sweetened chocolate On the opening day, Throughout the exhibition,
soon became the latest 16th November 2009, a several events and Exclusive ‘Exhibition
and greatest fad to hit the chocolate fountain will be workshops will take place. Celebration Party’
continent. set up in the Great Court. On Sundays, three
The exhibition shows After closing time, all chocolate manufacturers Date
ancient European silver staff and friends of our from Cadbury will hold 16 November
and porcelain chocolate museum are invited to join special shows, introducing 19.00
services, cocoa tins from the exclusive ‘Exhibition the visitors to the many
the 19th and 20th century and Celebration Party’ in the ways one can experience Pricing
antique and contemporary Court Restaurant. Guests chocolate. 35 £ per person – Drinks
candy moulds. will be treated to a strolling On Saturdays, children are not included.
supper featuring a will have the opportunity
delicious chocolate to create their own ‘Kids Chocolate
infused menu. The personalised chocolates in Making Workshops’
atmosphere is all- interactive ‘Kids Chocolate
Date
chocolate café and Making Workshops’. The
On Saturdays
the bar will feature workshops are free of cost
10.30, 14.30
selected wine for all children of staff.
pairings for the During the exhibition, Pricing
evening’s menu. visitors can purchase 10 £ per child
One of the limited Cadbury editions
FREE OF CHARGE for
main highlights of from the souvenir and guide
children of staff –
the evening is the shop. All proceeds will be Reservations are
‘Chocolate Legs donated to the Cadbury appreciated.
Live Performance’ Cocoa Partnership.
of the world-famous Tickets & Bookings
r&b soul singer Eric
Benét. Souvenir & guide shop

3. ‘Minnies & Mickies’ comes to the aid of all women employees
Women seek to constantly In good hands
strike the balance between
The capacity of the crèche
family and job. But for all
will be thirty children,
our female employees,
between the ages of one
help is at hand, or in the
and five. With trained
museum rather.
staff and caretakers, the
Bring your little ones crèche promises to offer
along all-round day care including
medical, recreational and
On 30th November 2009, a
educational activities, from
crèche for the children of
9.30 to 18.30. to have, together with a The fees for the
staff will be inaugurated.
The employees can also computer room, snacks, crèche are subsidized
Located right next to the
meet their children during toys, abaci, jigsaw puzzles and deductible from the
staff area on the ground
lunch hours and spend time and other odds and ends. employee’s salaries.
floor, ‘Minnies & Mickies’
with them.
will offer employees the
advantage of dropping their A second home Minnies & Mickies
kids to the crèche as soon Opening date Minimum/Maximum Age
With its colour-striped
as they enter the ambient
floor and a wall that 30 November 2009 1-5
premises of the museum.
seems to pictorially depict
As 60 % of all employees Opening hours Cont@ct
Walt Disney characters Mon-Fri, 9.30 to 18.30 Minnies & Mickies
are women the museum
from Mickey Mouse to Phone: +44 (0)20 73 23
decided to introduce this
Cinderella, the place has Capacity 00 00
path-breaking concept
all the requisites one would 30 children E-Mail: info@emandem.
and probably decides on
envision a kindergarten org
expansion.
Employee Spotlight
Our monthly ‘Employee How long have you did several courses on First What is your mission?
Spotlight’ page profiles been in the business of Aid, Equal Opportunities,
some of the people and childcare? Working with Parents, Children will be treated with
projects that make our Language & Literacy, etc respect as individuals and
museum a success. This Altogether 7 years. As I service and delivery will be
month’s spotlight shines on used to work as a midwife What is the most positive developed and designed
Sarah Foster. before, babies and children aspect of your service? around their changing
have always played an needs. Racial and cultural
important role in my Our opening hours accord values will be recognised
professional life. with those of the British and respected. Qualified,
Museum. We offer all supportive and caring staff
Why did you pursue a employees the advantage have been trained to listen
career in childcare? of dropping their kids aged and communicate in a
between one and five to non-judgemental way, with
I have always had a great the crèche. clear polices and standards
love for children. There to ensure consistency of
is huge job satisfaction in Describe the facilities of care.
childcare, helping children your service?
develop to their best
We will be located on the Cont@ct
abilities.
ground floor of the museum
What is the highest level next to the staff area. The Sarah Foster
of training you recently facilities are divided into
two sections: the baby Director
completed?
unit and the toddler & pre- Minnies & Mickies
I obtained both the ‘Award school unit. We provide a
Phone: +44 (0)20 73
in Playwork for Early Years fully equipped indoor play 23 00 24
As the Director of ‘Minnies and Child Care Workers’ area with an extensive E-Mail:
& Mickies’ (see article and the ‘Certificate range of toys and books sfoster@emandem.
above), she will inaugurate of Managing Quality for different ages and org
the British Museum’s first Standards in Children’s stages of development and
on-site crèche at the end of Services’ from Crechendo a lovingly arranged nap
November. Training, London. Further, I room.

4. Healthy eating during cold and flu season Stay healthy
As the weather becomes power from garlic, crush the levels of vitamin D may Get plenty of rest
colder and we stay indoors cloves with the flat side of a be linked to a seasonal
more, people often catch knife before adding them to increase in colds and flu Eat a well-balanced
colds or other viruses. The your food. This releases the and a higher incidence of diet
cold and flu season can garlic juice, which has great respiratory infections.
Exercise regularly
begin as early as October immune properties. Vitamin C, found in citrus
and usually ends sometime Cheese and other fruits and juices, may also Decrease stress
in April. dairy products contain help the body’s immune
While there is no way conjugated linoleic acid, system. Get enough sleep
to cure the common cold a natural component of Zinc, found in meat,
or the flu, healthy eating dairy fat which has boosted chicken, peanuts and Cut back on
during cold and flu season immune response in animal peanut butter, plays an unhealthy habits,
can help you avoid getting studies. important role in the proper such as smoking
sick. Yogurt and all other functioning of the immune and over consuming
Foods that may boost
cultured milk products system in the body. alcohol
contain essential probiotics,
your immune system Foods that heal
beneficial bacterial with
Researchers are finding immune-boosting benefits. ‘Taste Chocolate’
Fresh ginger root can help
positive links between Look for the “live active
you when you are sick by weeks
immune function and culture” seal, which If chocolate is your
inducing sweating and
components in food. indicates that probiotics passion, you should
decreasing nausea and
Garlic may boost your have been added. definitely not miss the
diarrhea. Make ginger tea
immune system, increasing Also check milk product
by grating one ounce of
resistance to infection and labels for vitamin D. Early ‘Taste Chocolate’ weeks
fresh ginger in a pint of
stress. To get the immune research suggests low in the Court Restaurant.
water. Cover and simmer
for 10 minutes. Add lemon During the first two weeks
and honey to taste. of the exhibition ‘Story of
Chicken soup and warm Chocolate’, it invites all
beverages increase the visitors and staff to feel
flow of nasal secretions, the origin of chocolate, the
helping alleviate cold taste of cocoa from Chuao
symptoms. Of course, the — Venezuela, Trinidad,
taste and wonderful aroma Jamaica and other exotic
of chicken soup may be places.
an important part of the Among many other
beneficial effects. luscious treats, chocolate
Healthy eating during pizzas, cupcakes or even
cold and flu season steak & vegetables in
means getting the daily chocolate beer are on the
requirement of essential menu.
vitamins and minerals by The most seductive
eating a balanced diet that offer: staff of the museum
contains a variety of foods get a 30 % discount on
from all food groups. all chocolate specials.
Welcome back, ‘Black George’!
continued from page 1 In the last two weeks, the Metropolitan police detained
and questioned several suspects – admittedly without
The act had been arranged way beforehand success. Through careful investigations and intelligence-
In the night of 29th October 2009, two perpetrators scored led police work, the experts were able to locate the painting
a big coup: By putting the security system out of operation, and make two arrests.
the committers succeeded in abstracting the £850.000 All’s well that ends well
masterpiece from the museum.
The Byzantine icon, on loan from Moscow’s State The ‘missing child’ has finally been returned to our
Historical Museum, is part of a collection of five icons and museum where it has been welcomed warmly. Despite the
has an extremely high historical value. Its theft sparked incidence, it will be exhibited within the exhibition ‘Roman
a worldwide search and was put on the FBI’s list of fifty and Byzantine icons’ until July 2010.
most wanted stolen artworks, while a £10,000 reward was At this point, we want to thank the Historical State
offered by the State Historical Museum for its return. Museum for its unconditional support.