Winchester Heritage Centre - Trust Annual Report 1992
During the year under review, we were sad that our Manager, Alan Cooke, decided to retire after eight years of dedicated service. His place however has been taken by Tony Hunter who is proving a worthy successor. A series of successful exhibitions have been held, which have the added advantage of attracting visitors to the Heritage Centre who might otherwise not have come. Our Christmas card, a view of Winchester from the North East, was a best seller, and a reprint has been ordered together with an attractive new card depicting St. John's Street in the early 19th century. Our main fund raising effort this year is the Fine Arts Sale to be held on 10th October. Although the rehabilitation of the Centre has been a great improvement it has not attracted as many visitors as we would have hoped. This could be due to the succession of building works affecting this part of the City. and the latest inconvenience is the erection of hoardings for the new Community Centre. At last we have produced and fitted a hanging sign for the Heritage Centre with our logo resplendent in its green and white.
Noteworthy additions to our displays are an aerial photograph of Winchester donated by Aerofilms, and an important section of Roger Brown's model of Winchester as it was in 1871 showing the Cathedral. The Heritage Centre was also the venue of a broadcast by Radio Solent, and features in Network South East booklet on days out with an entrance voucher.
The Management Committee has decided to open the Centre on Saturday mornings during the winter months. Both Trust members and visitors will be welcome and coffee will be provided. It is hoped also to revive the lunch-time lectures started so successfully by Frank Chippindale. The Trust's Archives, formerly housed in the City Library, have now been transferred to the Heritage Centre. These include a comprehensive collection of Winchester photographs. and it is hoped to add to them from time to time.