The Museum is commemorating the Diamond Jubilee with a special first floor exhibition.
Jubilee exhibition
Among many treasures is a fascinating book published to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, together with an 1897 Diamond Jubilee Medal, a Coronation Medal for Edward VIII, rubber moulds for the tokens (made of St Agnes tin) which were presented to the school children of the Parish for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, together with some of the tokens and souvenir brochures describing the celebrations across the Parish from the Coronations of George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, to the present day. The exhibition provides a fascinating glimpse into celebrations past and present within the Parish.
The Museum had a very successful stall at the Diamond Jubilee Victorian Fayre held in the centre of St Agnes on 4 June.
Choosing what to buy at the Victorian Fayre
Sue and Mike Amor had prepared real Victorian lemonade and elderflower cordial (Mike had chopped 100 lemons into 16 pieces each) while others baked small cakes and biscuits. Roger Radcliffe and Sue manned the beautifully decorated stall in warm sunshine and rapidly sold out of lemonade. Crowds poured into the village. Many Museum leaflets were also given out to visitors.
Almost £200 was raised for Museum funds and we are very grateful to everyone who helped.
Samantha Woon, 21, who was torch bearer Number 23 and who carried her torch between Alverton Road and Penalverne Drive, Penzance, presented our Chairman, Roger Radcliffe, with her torch in a happy ceremony, surrounded by her family, at the Museum on Sunday 20 May.
Samantha Woon presenting Roger Radcliffe with her Olympic torch
Samantha had been nominated by her mother. As a child, Samantha had two eye operations. The second did not go well and she was, for a short time, left without sight. As a result of this she became very aware that losing one’s sight can be a very frightening and disabling experience. This gave her the drive and ambition to help others; she began fundraising for the blind at the age of ten, writing to many people, including the Queen and Prince Charles who were very supportive. She managed to set up a fund in her name and raised well over two thousand pounds. She was awarded the Princess Diana award for all her hard work. She also went to Uganda as an Aid worker aged fifteen and hopes to return there next year.
Samantha Woon with her Olympic torch
Accepting the torch, Roger stressed what a tremendous honour it was for the Museum to display it, one which had actually carried the flame brought from Olympia. The symbolism of friendship and a sense of peace associated with an Olympic torch were aspirations shared by St Agnes Museum. It was very important, he said, that this torch had close personal links to St Agnes Parish as Samantha’s family had lived here for many years. He hoped that many schoolchildren would want to know Samantha’s inspirational story and see the torch.
Samantha said she had met many inspirational fellow runners and was so lucky to have been part of the relay.
The torch now forms the centre piece of the Sporting Achievements display.
A whole trunk full of fascinating maritime memorabilia has been donated to the Museum by a retired Coastguard who was stationed at St Agnes during the 1960s.
Boat’s compass
While our Curatorial team is still processing this generous donation which will be on display next season, here is a photo of a boat’s compass to whet your appetite.
Carol read “Fred’s Story” to an eager Year 3 and showed them “Fred’s” battered war-time suitcase and its contents, including a genuine, and very rusty, tin of condensed milk!
The rest of the outreach session was definitely “hands on” when children tried on WWII helmets, made rubbings of coins of the era and weighed out a weekly ration of bacon,butter and cheese – in Play-Doh!
Always popular with schools as an introduction to or reinforcement of the KS2 history syllabus, this workshop may be booked by phoning the Museum on 01872 553228 or mailing us at info@stagnesmuseum.org.uk
