Welcoming our new Learning Officer

We’re excited to welcome our new Learning Officer, Helen Brown, to the team! 

Before joining the Museum of Chelmsford, Helen was an Education Manager at St Osyth Priory in northeast Essex, where she brought history to life by sharing tales of an Anglo-Saxon saint beheaded by Vikings, stories of women accused of witchcraft, and the many changes of a grand country house through war and peace. She has a strong background in education and history, having previously been a secondary school history teacher.

As Learning Officer, Helen is working with the Curatorial & Learning team to implement the museum’s learning programmes, inspiring curiosity and creativity among visitors of all ages. She is supporting the team in delivering curriculum-linked workshops and interactive sessions for schools, families, and community groups. Helen is also developing new educational resources and programmes – which we think is very exciting!

As a passionate historian and creative educator, she loves storytelling and, like us,  believes heritage can connect communities and help people - especially young people - find a sense of place and belonging by sharing the lives and legacies of those who came before us.

Helen is excited to get stuck into sharing our stories in different ways:

“I’m delighted to introduce myself as the new Learning Officer at the Museum of Chelmsford. It’s a real privilege to join a museum that celebrates the rich, diverse, and often surprising stories of our city and its people. My vision for learning at the Museum of Chelmsford is simple: to spark curiosity, nurture pride in our local heritage, and help young people feel connected to the place they call home. Through hands-on workshops and storytelling that links past to present, I hope to unlock the secrets hidden in our objects and bring history to life in meaningful ways.”

When Helen is not bringing history to life, she is a mum to four brilliant children. She has also written two novels (one for adults and one for children) as well as two short non-fiction books, all inspired by local history. 

Click here to visit our learning pages