In Memorium
Mel Houston, ACR
1967-2023
Mel Houston died — aged just 55 — on Sunday 1st January.
Some will have known her through her work as a preventive conservator, first at The National Trust for Scotland which she joined in 2007 and then, from 2020, at the National Library of Scotland.
Her route into Preventive Conservation was, however, unconventional.
Career No 1 – 1980s
was in the fields of biochemistry and biomedical sciences. In the late ‘80s Mel graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, and then worked as a lab technician for 4 years in the Bacteriology Dept of Edinburgh’s Medical School – whilst completing a post-grad Diploma in Biomedical Sciences.
Career No 2 – 1990s
saw a shift to Photography & Film. Whilst still working at the Medical School she was awarded first a Diploma in Photography & Art at Edinburgh College of Art and then a First Class BA Hons in Photography at Napier University, Edinburgh, from where she graduated in 1997.
She then found work – variously as
- assistant to an established Edinburgh freelance photographer
- resident cruise ship photographer on the MV Black Prince (not a happy period)
- Manager of the Edinburgh Dungeon visitor attraction, where duties ranged from managing the rapid rotation of short-term staff to feeding human blood to leeches . . .
Career No 3 – 2000s
Mel moved from Edinburgh to Glasgow and, needing work, chanced on an advert for a Visitor Assistant at NTS’ Glasgow Tenement House. She got the job and a new world opened … between 2006-8 she completed (distance learning) Northumbria University’s MA in Preventive Conservation.
She was quickly spotted by NTS Regional Conservator Julie Bon who has written it became clear early on that there was very little I could teach Mel as a student. She was always much smarter than me and I often felt she was three or four steps ahead. [note, Julie and Mel became close colleagues and friends, and both worked at the National Library of Scotland – where Julie, as Head of Collections Care & Collections Management was Mel’s manager — and Mel, following her appointment in 2020, the Library’s first Preventive Conservator.]
Mel’s progression however through NTS roles kicked off as an Icon/HLF intern (supervised by Isobel Griffin, now Head of Conservation at National Galleries of Scotland). Short contracts followed, including several months as Project Conservator supporting the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum – a major capital project.
But it was in the central strategic role of NTS’ National Preventive Conservator that Mel proved so very effective
- developing and rolling-out, NTS’ first IPM programme — with memorable training sessions led by David Pinniger, along with Mel (who David regarded highly)
- upgrading environmental monitoring equipment Trust-wide and writing annual analysis of datalogger information – and ensuring implementation of any recommendations
- delivering memorable training sessions – always a highlight of NTS’ annual Collections Care Workshops.
Less predictably but entirely characteristically – was Mel’s niche, if not unique, conservator qualification – a Bat Survey Licence. Are any other UK conservators licensed to handle bats?
She became ACR in 2013 and went on to supervise 3 or 4 Icon interns, as well as contributing to Icon as a Mentor — and then, latterly, served 6 years as an Icon Trustee, stepping down just weeks ago at Icon’s December AGM.
Outside of work Mel and her partner kept geese, ducks, chickens and cats and together developed a garden from scratch with a pond, orchard, vegetables and huge greenhouse. Beekeeping was next on her ‘to do’ list and hives were constructed just before Christmas. If all that wasn’t enough Mel made her own (very drinkable) wine along with bottles of limoncello, vodka and amaretto – often given as gifts to friends.
Mel was widely read with a sparkling mind and clarity of thought underpinned by a dogged persistence to complete any task in hand. Her ability to communicate the complex was exceptional and, when she chose to let rip, she had a colossal sense of the absurd accompanied by a dry wit and sharp sense of humour.
The high regard and affection in which Mel was – is — held became clear the moment news of her death broke last week. She would have been astonished to know this. She might have heard you out . . . and then just got on with cleaning out the geese, duck and chicken sheds.
Clare Meredith, 8 Jan 2023