Author: St Agnes Museum

Tension mounted towards the end of the season when it seemed possible that visitor numbers would exceed 5000 for the first time in many years. Helped by several group visits we did indeed achieve a magnificent 5151 visitors, 552, or 12%, more than last season.

Undoubtedly the publicity from our winter refurbishment helped, with a further publicity boost in July with the presentation of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and of course, in these difficult financial times, admission to the Museum and all our children’s activities remained free.

We welcomed visitors from all over Cornwall, from all parts of the United Kingdom, and from 21 different overseas countries including Latvia, Denmark, Japan and Singapore.

From the signatures in our Visitors’ Book the most overseas visitors came from Australia (50) with Germany in second place (28), the USA third (23) and New Zealand fourth (15). Of our American visitors most (6) came from California. Many who came from Australia and the USA were seeking information on their St Agnes ancestors and found our Family History section invaluable.

There were as always some lovely comments in our Visitors’ Book:

Lovely collections and staff

Light and bright, and clear displays

Very helpful

Good to find out who Passmore Edwards was

Wonderful to see the outcome of all the efforts

Very educational

Records were a big help

Muy interesante (our one visitor from Spain)

A little gem of a museum

Fun for the kids

Thoughtfully laid out for families

Two stewards, Jean Bunt and Pat McWalter, had the distinction of welcoming the most visitors in one session (80+) on a day when we had more than 100 in total.

The season closed with a “Coffee Extravaganza” at the Museum to thank all the stewards for their hard work.

We were honoured to welcome Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant, Lady Mary Holborow, and the Chair of Cornwall Council, Councillor Pat Harvey to the Museum on 22 July, when Lady Mary presented Museum Chairman, Roger Radcliffe, with a beautiful piece of inscribed crystal and a certificate signed by HM The Queen to mark the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Surrounded by some 70 Museum volunteers, Lady Mary read out the Museum’s citation and spoke of her pleasure that the Museum had gained the award.  Four children from St Agnes Primary School were involved in the presentation – the boys entrusted with holding the crystal and the certificate by Lady Mary, while the girls presented her with a basket of Cornish flowers.

Roger Radcliffe paid tribute to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make our Museum such a success and said that many were serial volunteers who helped with many village groups. Liz Thompson thanked Lady Mary for suggesting, some two years ago, that the Museum might be nominated, as it had never occurred to us that a museum might be suitable.

Everyone moved outside for group photos and a chance to admire the unique bunting, in purple and white and featuring the QAFVS logo, specially made by Clare Murton and Ann Oxley, our joint Curators.

Afterwards, delicious food and drink were served upstairs, the organisation overseen by Clare Murton, and the food contributed by many helpers.

It was a memorable morning and our grateful thanks are due to Mandy Kimmins, our nominator, St Agnes Primary School and the Local Improvements Committee for their letters of support, and everyone who has helped in any way.

On 12 July Roger Radcliffe, Chairman, Clive Benney, Vice Chairman, Ann Oxley, Curator, and Colin Harris, Past Chairman, representing St Agnes Museum volunteers, attended the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, an acknowledgement of the award of the QAFVS.

Roger Radcliffe said: “It was an amazing day and a first for all of us.  We were ushered through the arch at the front of the Palace into the heart of the building to emerge on the western terrace.  We were met with 40 acres of garden with a lake at its centre.  In front of us were rows of green and white tea tents and of course there were cucumber and mint sandwiches, minus the crusts.  Many people were dressed in their national costume, with colourful African and Arabian outfits.  At 4 pm The Yeomen of the Guard cleared a way through the crowds in anticipation of the Queen who made her entrance as the band played the National Anthem.  It was a fabulous day, made possible because of 60 volunteers who keep the Museum going.”

We were delighted to welcome the Reception Class of St Agnes Primary School to the Museum on 13 July.

The 28 youngsters drew the figurehead and the turtle, explored the Museum, with a special look at the Natural History display, and listened attentively to our story “Sam and the Leatherback Turtle”.

It was great to see them!