MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS, TAKE A BOW

MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS, TAKE A BOW

The Halesworth and District Museum was one of six finalists in the Suffolk Museum of the Year Awards announced in Ipswich on 21 October. Not bad considering how small a museum we are.  There were over 30 entrants and we came away, not winner (that’s next year!), but a well-appreciated runner-up. All that’s down to our terrific team of volunteers. Take a bow all of you.

We also have to give a great big thankyou to the team of very willing volunteers who turned up at the Museum on the 14th, rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in to the task of clearing our store room for the next new development in the Museum’s life . Thanks to their energy and willingness, the task was completed in a fraction of the time we’d allowed. Many thanks.

That move will allow us to start work on the next exciting phase in the Museum’s life, the creation of a Research Room where people will be able to come and pursue their interests in local history and family history. There will be computer access to lots of resources as well as the opportunity to use the extensive research collection of books, notes and photographs which the Museum has built up over the years. So watch this space for further news. In the meantime, the space gained gives us a chance to put on public display for the first time, some of the Museum’s extensive collection of historical pictures.

Thanks to our ever-supportive team of volunteers, we’ve taken the bold step this year of maintaining our summer opening times into the winter, doubling the number of hours. So until Friday 13 December, when we close for our ‘winter recess’, we shall still be open Tuesday to Saturday mornings, 10.00 – 12.30.

This year, we plan a Thankyou Tea for all our Volunteers and Friends, without whom none of this would be possible. Make a note in your diary if you’re one of our ‘Ring of Support’ and keep the afternoon of Saturday 23 November free. You’ll be hearing more from us.

And if there’s anyone out there wishing they were part of this award-winning team, do pop in and see us at the Museum or ring Brian Howard on 01986 875551 for a chat. There’s still room on the bus.