About the Curator James Brindley

Born in the West End of Derby in the early 1940s he has seen the results of many good inventions and the improvements that these have brought to peoples lives. Some of these inventions were used to mechanize the handling of goods which eventually lead to the invention of the forklift truck.  
His interest in science and technology began at an early age whilst still at school and this has influenced a varied and interesting working life. It has also spilled over into his social life with the hands on building of two museums; one to house and exhibit steam and oil engines and the other a safe location from which to tell the story of materials handling. A varied working life has included service in the Royal Air Force and a career in engineering and management with a major forklift truck manufacturer. In 1993 he became a Director of the Fork Truck Association and in the same year was awarded a Science degree by the Open University. Having taken early retirement at the end of 1999 his main focus has been the care of the museums and the assembly of a comprehensive archive about the history of British and Overseas forklift truck manufacturers