From the President

by Wally Turnbull

We have spoken about this virtual museum project before but we first needed to focus on some of the administrative formalities of the organization and establish our genealogy database.  Those projects are now in good shape, serving TCA members even as they continue to improve.

The Turnbull Virtual Museum will consist of photographs of interest to our clan including all of our septs.  The photographs will be identified and accompanied by as much information as we can gather about each item.

Items of interest would include awards, personal effects of significant ancestors, books and publications, labels and other advertising materials from Turnbull businesses.  In other words, interesting things from past and present Trimbles, Trumbulls Turnballs, Turnbulls, Rules, etc.

To begin with, we will not include items of historical interest which do not have a Turnbull connection.  Also, unless you make prior arrangements to do so, do not send any objects to TCA.  We cannot be responsible for items.

Send photographs or high resolution scans and information about any interesting, Turnbull objects you have.  Include a description of the object, its approximate date, and any information you may have about the circumstances surrounding the item to:

Meet the Member

high-risk industries.  Aidan works for the publishing firm The Hemming Group of central London.

Aidan’s other publishing endeavors includes being editor of FIRE & RESCUE magazine, the top international magazine for the world’s municipal fire and rescue services, circulating in 153 countries.  He produces and edits LOCAL AUTHORITY PLANT & VEHICLE - a wide-reaching UK magazine aimed at local government equipment users.

An investigative journalist at heart, Aidan was previously editor of MILITARY FIREFIGHTER [1989-1996] magazine, aimed at the world’s military fire & crash-rescue services - Army, Navy, Air Force and civil defense forces.

He is author of the best-selling paperback 'FIREMAD' [ISBN 0-9522613-0-8] published in 1993 – as Aidan says “a compendium of ghastly stories and outrageous news reports (The theme of this book is: “the-worst-thing-that-happened-to-us-was..") researched from the emergency services around the world.”

He has a BA (Hons) Degree in English from King’s College Winchester (1982). In addition to English, he speaks passable Dutch, Norwegian, Spanish and Latin. 

In 1982, Aidan married his college sweetheart, Gillian (maiden name MEAD). They have two sons, Nicholas, (aged 17) and Robbie (aged 13) and live in the center of Chichester, an ancient Roman city in West Sussex, approximately 15 miles from Portsmouth.  Gillian works in the Care-For-The-Elderly sector and has so many clients who need her that it's difficult to find time to take holidays!

Aidan’s zest for medieval living on and off the battlefield makes him one of TCA’s most colorful members.

Editor’s note:  Watch for an article about Aidan and his medieval involvement in an upcoming Bullseye.