Winchester Heritage Centre - TrustNews February 1988
The start of the New Year seems an appropriate time to take stock of what has been achieved and what other objectives should be aimed for in the coming year.
The Centre has had some mixed fortune during the year 1987. Unfortunately, more targets were missed than hit during the year.
On the credit side, the Audio/Visual production was created, and since its introduction at Easter it has continued to receive very many laudatory comments (some from surprising quarters), but it has failed to make the impact expected in terms of numbers of visitors to the Centre. This, in turn, has meant that we have fallen well short of our financial targets for the year and will again need to look to the Trust to make good the shortfall.
Total numbers during the year were up to those of previous years but the looked-for increase did not materialise. The Brooks Dig, the masking of the Centre by hoardings, the opening of a new "Heritage Shop" which confuses people, have all worked to our disadvantage. However, some new thoughts are in train for improving this year's figures.
On the positive side, the numbers of schools and children using the Centre have leapt up. Other organisations and authorities who have taken the trouble to travel to Winchester (in some cases from long distances), have all been most impressed and in some cases have expressed a certain envy. This must be good for Winchester.
Administratively the Centre has benefitted from the enormous amount of time and effort contributed by the Hon. Manager, Alan Cooke, and his Assistant, Ray Eaglen. Thanks are also due to the other members of the Management Committee and to the volunteer Stewards for their invaluable services. With the closure of the Centre for the Winter break, Alan Cooke departed for a long stay in Australia, and with reluctance resigned as Hon. Manager. Ray Eaglen is standing-in until March, but cannot take on the responsibilities after that. As a matter of some urgency therefore, we need someone to take Alan Cooke's place, and I use this opportunity to make a plea for a volunteer.