from the November 2011 Newsletter
Heritage weekend proved to be a busy weekend for many of us, including the Friends. Saturday 10th September saw 80, yes eighty! visitors to the museum which must be a record.
The Friends had decided to hold their annual coffee morning on Sunday 11th September with a bric-a-brac stall, raffle and other attractions resulting in £80 for our funds. 34 people came, not a large number considering the work involved and also the difficulty in finding stewards to open the museum on a Sunday.
Our museum is dependant on a dedicated team of stewards who give up their time to keep the museum open. We are always in need of stewards and if you feel you can give up three hours of your time once a month to a fascinating and rewarding job please get in touch with me.
The Friends helped with the BBQ held in September at the museum, an enjoyable but rather wet event ! A report is in the November newsletter.
The Annual Christmas Party for museum volunteers and stewards will be held on Friday 9th December at 7.30pm at the Letherhead Institute. This is a ‘thank you’ to everyone who works behind the scenes and keeps the museum open.
Dr Fred Meynen
About the Friends
Museums and Art Galleries usually enjoy the support of a 'Friends' organisation and Leatherhead Museum is no exception.
Our contribution to the success of our museum is both practical and financial . The 'objects' as set out in our constitution are : -
(a) To help in the upkeep of the Leatherhead Museum
(b) To assist the Museum committee and the Curator to stage displays of local history
(c) To publish from time to time, as appropriate, news items of the Friends activities,
(d) To help publicise the Museum and
(e) To foster interest in museums and display techniques and other related activities.
We are active in all these fields but perhaps the greatest debt that the museum owes to the Friends is the provision and organisation of Stewards. These are volunteers willing to give their time in order to man the museum during opening hours. We are always glad to hear of local people who might wish to get involved in this interesting task ; it involves only three hours per month.
The Friends make every effort to bring about an increase in the numbers visiting us. We publicise the museum in every way possible, also sponsoring local initiatives and building links with local firms and local schools.
Other activities include organising training sessions for stewards, social activities such as coffee mornings (which also help to bring in funds) and an annual visit to a place of historic interest.
Membership There is always a warm welcome for new Friends, whether they live close by or are distant 'well wishers'. The annual subscription is £3 (£5 for couples).To join The Friends please print off the application form and send it with the appropriate cheque to : The Membership Secretary, Friends of Leatherhead Museum, 64, Church Street, LEATHERHEAD, Surrey, KT22 8DP.
Dr Fred Meynen
Chairman, The Friends of Leatherhead Museum
Friends of Leatherhead Museum during an outing to Amberley Working Museum. SOUTHDOWN No. 11 bus formerly operating in the Worthing area.
