Hello! My name is Robert Clegg and I have been appointed to the post of Collections Access Officer (HLF) at the University Archives and Special Collections service. As you may have guessed from the title, my post is funded by the HLF project with the intention of developing wider access across the service’s extensive collections. Over the next three years I will be tackling a very wide range of different collections but my first priority is the archives of the British Music Collection.

As one of our largest and most prestigious collections, I am very excited about the prospect of working with these fantastic records and the wonderful discoveries that will be made along the way. The archives of the British Music Collection comprise the administrative and reference records of the British Music Information Centre (BMIC) and its successor, Sound and Music. Founded in 1967 BMIC worked to promote contemporary British classical/art music and provide a reference library for composers’ scores and recordings. My initial challenges will be getting to grips with the sheer size of the collection, finding space in our stores that will hold it all, and tackling a locked filing cabinet with no keys?! But I’m certain that as I start delving into more and more boxes over the next few weeks I’ll be making all kinds of interesting discoveries so watch this space for all the high notes! (sorry)