The Museum team welcomed Nic Cowper as the artist resident in the David Rudkin Room this year. Nic attended the Museum for the entire Arts Trail, looking after his potential clients. More than 1100 visitors came to the Museum during the two weekends of the Arts Trail which was a very good start to the year
Although many Arts Trail visitors are there simply for the art, there were many positive comments about the changes we have made to the Museum in recent times, and many promises of a return visit post Arts Trail.
Both the Brook Meadow and Parish Centenary Exhibitions have also been popular. These exhibitions emphasise the Museum’s symbiotic relationship with the Emsworth Community. We exist to tell the story of Emsworth, but we also welcome groups telling their own story.
On 6th July the (slightly) delayed D-Day exhibition was opened by Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Dymock. Jane Kidd has built on the work of Bob Duncan (her father) who curated the Museum’s D-Day exhibition in 2014. She has discovered some new Emsworth- related pictures in the Imperial War Museum, and researched new aspects of the local D-Day story.
Collection
As you know, we have very specific criteria for accepting new objects into the collection. However, we are pleased and excited by the acquisition of the Honours Board for the Independent Order of Oddfellows for the Emsworth and Havant Branch. The Museum already has a plaque once owned by a member of the Emsworth Branch of the same Order. These objects highlight the activities of the mutual friendly societies in alleviating poverty prior to the creation of the welfare state. The board identifies Mr S G Tricker (our own Brian Tricker’s father) as one of the Trustees of the branch.
The display Ben Timmis has curated also shows how the Victoria Cottage Hospital was funded by the entire community prior to the creation of the welfare state. All levels of Emsworth society gave what they could afford.
These are complicated stories to present effectively in the Museum, but they demonstrate that in earlier times a social safety net existed and was widely supported by the Emsworth community.
Volunteering
The committee are deeply grateful to all our volunteers, but I make no apologies for repeating the appeal I made in the last Newsletter. We can find volunteers by approaching those we know, but it is so much better to have as wide a pool of volunteers as possible. So, don’t be shy – put your hand up and contact me. The Museum needs more volunteers to:
- Edit The Emsworth Echo and the Newsletter after November 2025. An apprenticeship period before Christine Bury retires would be desirable.
- Look after the Archive Room.
- Research requests from the public – and our own queries.
- Support the continuing effort to make more information and exhibits available online.
- Tackle our (currently tiny) presence on social media.
- Look after the housekeeping – cleaning materials, toilet paper etc.
Trevor Davies, email trevor.davies28@btinternet.com
