SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Museum might be closed to visitors – but hard work has started inside

VOLUNTEERS and supporters of the award-winning Chard Museum have enjoyed a get-together to celebrate the end of another successful season.

The museum in the High Street has now closed for the winter after a successful season and a thank you lunch was laid on for volunteers and Friends of the Museum members.

The annual prize draw was held during the lunch with the top prize being £100 cash.

But although the museum has now closed to visitors – it does not mean that nothing is going on inside.

Museum spokesman Gwyneth Jackson said: “We are now entering our busy period with volunteers undertaking the out-of-season maintenance on the building and the collections.

“Some of the jobs that need doing include cleaning, refreshing of the displays, scanning photographs and documents, refreshing labels, producing an updated guide to the museum as well as updating the museum website.

“The committee also likes to have the outside grounds and field tidied up before any bad winter weather sets in, and as such, any volunteers who can offer to help for as much or as little time as can be offered, will be much appreciated.”

If anyone can help out in any way, please do contact Gwyneth Jackson on 01460-62078.

Cllr Amanda Broom, of Chard Town Council and South Somerset District Council, said: “It is certainly well documented how incredible the museum is, and how it would not be able to survive without the committed friends and volunteers who offer time and energy to keeping everything going.

“In the closed season it is more important than ever that basic maintenance is completed, and with such a long list of work to be done – any help residents of Chard can offer will be very much appreciated.”

Chard museum will now be closed to the general public until the Spring, however, a new venture to have group visits throughout the closed season is now in place.

Museum chairman Vince Lean added: “By holding private opening sessions we are providing another service to the community which helps advertise the wealth of information within the museum – and celebrate Chard’s fascinating history.”

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