The 30th anniversary of the Ashford Borough Museum Society has been celebrated with a tea party and cake.
Curator Ian Sharp told the story of the Museum’s 30 years of recording and exhibiting the knowledge of Ashford‘s fascinating past. The Museum has now been accredited twice and runs a busy Outreach programme of talks to schools and societies, in addition to the many school visits to the Museum. Ashford Museum also leads the Wheels of Time passport scheme that now involves over 40 museums across Kent encouraging young people and their parents to visit. As an accredited museum access to the Ashford Borough Museum is free.
Museum President George Jessel DL paid tribute to Charles Oliver others of the original team of stewards and volunteers whose determination and support had made the Museum happen, and congratulated the present team of Stewards, Committee and Trustees who are taking it from strength to strength into the next 30 years .
Christina Fuller, Head of Culture, Tourism and Leisure at Ashford Borough Council said the Museum in its present location in the 17th century Dr Wilks Hall in the Ashford Churchyard was a treasure trove of amazing historic objects presented in new displays each year by the curator Ian Sharp. She added that Ashford Borough Council was proud of the work by the trustees and volunteers over all these years and are pleased to be working closely on a new vision for the Museum for the future.
The Museum’s exhibits cover the proud and continuing history of Ashford as a railway town, including the remarkable skills acquired by the railway apprentices displayed in a scale steam ploughing engine. The prehistory of Ashford is revealed by a local dinosaur leg bone of 200 million years ago, Roman artefacts from their many roads and dwellings in the borough, and many fascinating items donated to the museum by families and organisations to remember Ashford life and history.
Mary Wiggins, Secretary of the Museum was thanked for arranging a wonderful tea and cake and ensuring so many people involved , past and present were able to attend the 30th anniversary.
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