Ashby Rotary supports Ashby Museum

ASHBY MUSEUM RECEIVES £10,600 DONATION FROM ASHBY ROTARY

Ashby Museum is delighted to have received a donation of £10,600 from the Rotary Club of Ashby de la Zouch. The money will be used to buy a completely new computer system to replace the outdated one currently in use.

The museum’s function is to record, store and tell the story of the history of Ashby and surrounding villages. The new computer system will enable people from Ashby and around the world to see the Museum’s entire collection from the new website and also to purchase items available for retail sale.

The new computer hardware is more in tune with the younger generation’s experience and more of them will be encouraged to work with us.

The money comes from a bequest to the Rotary Club from the late Eric Bradford, a Rotarian of long standing. He and his wife Betty were Ashby business people who were very committed to the town and we believe they would be pleased that their bequest is helping a valuable Ashby institution.

Ever since Ashby Museum was first set up in Lower Church Street in 1982, there have been close and productive links with the Rotary Club of Ashby de la Zouch. The Museum moved to larger premises in the old North Street School in 1990/1 and had a two-storey extension added in 2006/7.

The Museum has won the title of Museum of the Year on two occasions as well as many other heritage awards.

Rotarians and local people have been instrumental in its success, serving as front of house volunteers, such as John Gammon, Arthur Wheatley (?) and Tony Edwards, or writing books for publication by the Museum - Arthur Crane. Rotarians and their wives continue the volunteer tradition. In addition, Rotarian Alan Turland was responsible for auditing the accounts for many years.

Ashby Rotary has helped the Museum financially on several occasions and this current very generous donation means that its bank of computers and digital presence can be updated.

Trustee Kenneth Hillier said ‘For over 40 years Ashby Museum has benefited from Rotarian support for which the Trustees are most grateful. We have a limited budget, so that donations such as this are vital to keep the Museum going. We can then continue to provide information about the area to our many inquirers.’