Museum Celebrates 50th Birthday
On Wednesday, 15th October, Gillingham Local
History Society Members and guests gathered at the Museum & Library in
Chantry Fields for special birthday celebrations which replaced the normal
lecture evening.
Chairman, Sam Woodcock, welcomed everyone and explained
how Gillingham obtained its first Museum in Church Walk. The Museum was officially opened on 6
November 1958 by Mr Hugh Shortt, Curator of the Salisbury Museum, in the
presence of a large gathering of members of the Gillingham Local History
Society and friends. Sam recalled that he was present on
that occasion for as a young history student he and a friend were given the task
of painting the old fire engine in readiness for the display, and were invited
to the opening ceremony as a reward - and a day off school!
President, Peter Crocker, continued the story by relating
how the Society moved from its first Museum to the present one in Chantry
Fields. With grants, donations and
fundraising well over £100,000 was raised towards building and fitting costs.
An application for £15,000 to the Heritage Lottery Fund was successful and on
26 April 1995 Gillingham became the first recipient in the country of a
Heritage Lottery Award. On 23 October
1996 the official opening was performed by Mr Herbert Green, the then President
of the Society.
Various displays had been prepared for the evening and
were spread between the Museum and Library.
A display of instruments and apparatus was prepared for a special quiz
(won by Bill Cadman). The Museum’s website was made
available on one of the library’s computers.
Above: Peter Crocker, Sam Woodcock, Ian Stewart (Mayor), Elaine Stewart (Mayoress), Dave Wathen (Town Crier).
Later in the evening, the Chairman cut a birthday cake,
decorated with an image of Gillingham’s 1790 fire-engine. Town Mayor, Ian Stewart congratulated the
Society on managing the Museum so well over the past 50 years and pointed out that
the Museum was a great asset to the Town.
Sam Woodcock reminded everyone that the Museum relies on
donations and grants for its existence and thanked all the volunteers for their
past work and also all those who had helped put together such a memorable
evening.