More volunteers needed to secure future of Emsworth Museum
A plea has been issued from Emsworth museum for more volunteers to come forward to ensure it has a long-term future.
The museum, in North Street, has a loyal membership which pay a yearly subscription cost, but it is the dwindling number of helpers which is causing concern.
As is a common concern for many organisations, there are not enough volunteers to give their time to keep the museum going.
There is a fear that as the original members grow older, there will not be any new blood to come in.
Linda Newell has been a busy volunteer at the museum for the past four years.
She said: "It has been in operation since 1988 and many of the people we have, became involved at that time.
"We have a very loyal membership.
"A lot of them are getting older, they don't want to have the responsibility, they are stepping back a bit.
"We need the next generation to come forward, they are very valuable to us as they keep the museum going.
"We don't get any grants from anyone, only a regular base of paying members, and that runs the museum.
"We need people coming up for retirement now, to step in and pick up an important part of Emsworth.
"If you don't understand the past, how can you make the present work?
"There are reasons why things happen in Emsworth, because of
its history.
"We don't want to keep the history just for now, but for the grandchildren and the great grandchildren.
Linda said she has had to put together a doomsday scenario checklist about what would happen if the museum closed.
She said: "I was having to look at what would happen to our collection if the council said they want the building back, or we had so few members that we couldn't keep going.
"I have one or two members that do so much for us, but they are ill, they are pushing themselves, we are very grateful to them but we need my generation, I have just become a pensioner and I'm one of the youngest members.
"You have to be aware I'm only looking after things for a little while, and I need to pass it on.
"I have always got to have one eye to the future – it's just commonsense."
Anyone interested in joining should contact Linda Newell by writing to Emsworth Museum and Maritime Trust, 10B, North Street, Emsworth, PO117DD, or email envr@btinternet.com
You can also call the museum on 01243 378091.
Single membership for under-65s is 7, joint membership is 12.
Single membership for 65s and over is 5, and joint membership is 9.
The membership is for a year.
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