Description (Physical description)
Description for 2015.290.2: 'White and silver coloured cap or lid for thermos flask 2105.290.1. Plastic. Originally manufactured in England.'
Event Date 23/10/2015
Author: Sam Daisley

Context (Acquisition Details)
The Spooner Collection was acquired by Arthur Casswell Spooner (1906-1996) during his colonial service in West Africa between 1929-1963, and also by his wife Sylvia from 1944. Following the Cambridge Colonial Service diploma (Clare College, 1928-9), he was posted to the Gold Coast in July 1929 as a Cadet in the Administrative Service. He was soon appointed Assistant District Commissioner and served in various areas of Ashanti and the Northern Territories until 1938. His tasks comprised office and court work as well as much travelling through the district.
In 1939 Spooner was seconded as Commissioner of the Labour Department in Kumasi, and in 1942 was appointed Assistant Director of Labour, General Headquarters West African Command, involved in raising Pioneer Groups in Sierra Leone and Nigeria primarily for the North African campaign. He was a member of the Gold Coast Defence Force and in 1942 appointed as a temporary Lieutenant Colonel. He married Sylvia Blest in Accra in 1944 and she accompanied him on all his postings. In 1945 he returned to the Administrative Service, and was appointed Senior District Commissioner, Ashanti, in 1946 and in 1951 Assistant Chief Commissioner of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast He retired in 1952, returning to the UK to work for Eastbury Estates Ltd.
He returned to Africa in 1956, working for the Gambian Government in the Establishments and Training Department until 1959. From 1961 to 1963 he was employed by the Government of Northern Nigeria to run the Resident's offices in Makurdi and Ilorin.
Following discussion with MAA from 2005 onwards the object and photograph collections were donated in 2015 by Sylvia's son Professor Edward T. Spooner per the Spooner family, with material also going to the teaching collections.
Arthur Spooner's correspondence and papers, 1928-95, are held at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Several items (including Konkomba dancing hats), copies of photographs and their associated copyright and a telegram relevant to the purchase of Sylvia Spooner's wedding ring were also given to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum c.2008.
Event Date 23/10/2015
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (Related Documents)
Notes by Arthur Spooner typed by his wife, Sylvia read: 'Raffia wrapped thermos - Bought Nigeria 1961-2 ?Llorin/Makurdi Benue River used for family picnics'. R. v.d. Velden, 23/10/2015.
Event Date 23/10/2015
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Description for 2015.290.1: 'Black, pale brown and red raffia wrapped thermos flask. Flask base stamped with 'Made in England'. Accompanied by lid 2015.290.2.'
Event Date 23/10/2015
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Black, pale brown and red raffia wrapped thermos flask. Raffia forms a chevron and checkerboard patterns. Flask base stamped with 'Made in England'. White and silver plastic lid or cap marked with the 'Thermos' logo.
Event Date 20/9/2021
Author: Sam Daisley