Heritage Centre - TrustNews Summer 1993
The Heritage Centre opened in February and March at weekends for the special exhibition of the M3 Landscape Proposals. Over 600 people came to view and comment.
Work on improving the Centre continues with a revised kitchen area, replanted garden, and a new shop. A movement sensitive light has been installed outside the North door. This has been an absolute boon during the dark evenings.
Financially, we are still trying to keep pace with escalating insurance and rates' bills. A generous donation from Bell Fine Arts Christmas exhibition was most welcome, and we are deeply indebted to Keith Bell for his very positive support.
The season opened on 1 April with an exhibition recalling the history of King Alfred Buses. The Company, owned by the Chisnells ceased operating in April 1973. This exhibition was the first event of the Winchester 900 Celebrations. The Mayor, Canon Keith Walker, and two former Mayors officiated at a ceremonial cake cutting which was recorded by the Hampshire Chronicle. The beautifully iced cake was topped by King Alfred, a slice of which is being preserved by freeze drying for display in 2013.
The exhibition currently on view is 'Cathedral Characters'. It is basically a snap shot of the 500 people behind the scenes in the Cathedral; the Holy Dusters, Tiller Girls, etc. who look after it. It is superbly photographed by the Trust's expert photographic archivists, John Brimfield and Arthur Brown. The inspiration came from Joy Williams after seeing the Canterbury Heritage Centre's exhibition linking cathedral and City.
The Trust Administration has fully occupied one of the upstairs rooms as an office, so the centre fairly hums with activity, with visitors during the day, and meetings of the various Trust Committees and other small organisations in the evenings. The letting of the premises in the evenings provides a welcome income. Careful booking arrangements are needed to ensure that the Trust affairs do not clash with paying customers. Surprisingly we continually find Trust members who have never visited our Heritage Centre.
Excellent publicity has been produced by Geraldine Buchanan. We hope this will entice visitors from a wide area. George Burnett has tackled the job of steward's steward with typical Guards efficiency coupled with Airborne flair, so there is almost a waiting list to be a steward! Vice Chairman Rosemary Kinnaird Smith has been the guiding hand in ensuring the Centre remains attractive. Her influence can be seen in the bookshop, resources centre, entrance panels and in the shortly to be redesigned 20th century room. We have all been aided and encouraged (plus the occasional broadside) by the Trust ChairŽman to have a volunteer Heritage Centre second to none. Already a number of the other Civic Societies considering opening their own centre, have come specially to seek our advice and have gone away deeply impressed by our role in helping to interpret Winchester (video and standing exhibition) educate (resources archives) and entertain (temporary exhibitions).
See the Diary for future events at the Heritage Centre.