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NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the Friends Of Herne Bay Museum newsletter. We hope this
will go out to the membership every eight to twelve weeks. It will include
news about the developments on the future of the museum and carry news of
coming events and exhibitions that the museum is planning.
Welcome also to the Friends, which has come into being really as a result
of last years bombshell announcement of possible closure. The campaign group
that formed in response to this threat forms the core of the current committee.
The reason for the Friends is the need to cement the mass of protest
into something more substantial, and to be a more positive, creative and active
influence in support of our town museum.
So how successful have we been? There have been a number of meetings
recently with the Council and other bodies concerning Herne Bay Museum as
well as other CCC museums under threat. The government body, the MLA
(Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) has got involved and is currently
undertaking a review on the whole museum service.
After holding question and answer sessions with council staff, museum
staff and stakeholders (the Friends were represented in this group), the MLA
assessors delivered a short verbal report to the council that we are told was highly
critical. In September they will produce a definitive written report with recom-
mendations, which we understand will be published.
Since then the Council has held a Museum Stakeholder Consultation
Day with all the major stakeholders represented. There was vigorous debate and
many different points of view expressed. The discussion covered the future of
the service, its major flaws and current council policy. The Council’s job is now
to take all the information and ideas from the whole review process and begin
to draft new polices in line with the current economic situation, the criticisms
expressed throughout the campaign since last November and the results of the
MLA review.
We expect that sometime in September there will be a further meeting
and then we will get some idea of their intentions. The only certain thing is that
the campaign, both in Herne Bay and in Canterbury has had an impact upon
Council thinking, but it remains to be seen whether that has materially affected
the future shape of the museum.
David Cross, secretary
AUGUST 2010
Friends of Herne Bay Museumcommittee:
Jenny Cross, chair; David Cross, secretary; Phil
Rose, membership secretary; Andrew Cook, acting
treasurer; Jason Hollingsworth, Jan Cook, Mandy
Troughton, Sylvia McKean, John Fishpool and Dick
Eburne.
THE WEBSITE
hernebaymatters.com
The local website HerneBayMatters.com is
supporting the Friends and our campaign, and
carries reports of the latest news about the Museum
and the campaign, developments, press cuttings and
coming events.
The “members only” section is where you’ll be
able to join our online discussions, exchange views
and have direct input into the activities of the Friends.
You will also find newsletters (and back copies),
special reports on events and exhibitions, behind-the-
scenes insights and, for the very hardy, our AGM and
committee reports.
USE IT OR LOSE IT
One of the reasons that Herne Bay Museum was
vulnerable to closure was that of all the museums
in the Council’s service, its visitor figures were the
least impressive. They had in fact been dropping for
the last couple of years.
One of the things we can do as a group is to help
reverse this trend. The community needs to be more
involved in its museum and the Friends can help by
acting as a conduit for ideas and initiatives. As we
get bigger we can become the voice of the town with
some hope of being heard.
Write to the newsletter or the website with your
ideas, moans and grumbles. Don’t forget to put in the
things you like or want more of, and don’t forget to
visit. Pop in when passing, add a click to the counter,
and urge others to do the same.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To become a stakeholder group and consequently
have some influence, we needed to have a
formal structure and constitution. The key aims and
objectives are:
• To support a Museum in Herne Bay open to the
general public at reasonable time.
• To encourage an interest in the history of Herne
Bay through exhibits in the Museum and other
appropriate means.
• To encourage an interest in the study and practice
of History through exhibits in the Museum and other
appropriate means.
• To represent the interests of the users and
supporters of the Museum in Herne Bay.
• To campaign for the continued existence of a
Museum to serve the local community needs as well
as those of visitors.
The rest of the constitution will be available on the
website for those with the stamina to endure it!
Contact us:
Please send your questions and comments to:
Newsletter:
FoHBM, 1 Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay, CT6 6AA
Membership secretary:
FoHBM, 56 Beacon Hill, Herne Bay, CT6 6JN
COMING EVENTSThis month, drop in events & activities include:
Sat 21st 10am to 12.30pm. Design and make a
festival flag, wand or whistle, All ages.
Mon 23rd 10am to 12.30pm. Find out about Herne
Bay’s Roman Shipwreck and make a mini pot to take
home. Age 3 - 12.
Sat 28th Create a poster with artist Paul Mitchell to
celebrate the seaside & Herne bay. All ages.
Sat 29th 11.30am to 2pm Meet the Musuem at the
Giant Picnic in the Memorial Park. All ages.
More details from the museum or the council’s
museum page on their website:
www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=54
MEMBERSHIP
We are on a membership drive. The Friends is
a very new group and we need to increase
the membership as swiftly as possible, there are
membership forms in the museum and in the
Newsagent at Queens roundabout. If you can help
and need forms to distribute at work or in your street
then email us and you will have them.
