The Heritage Centre - TrustNews Summer 1997
The Heritage Centre has continued its operations while the Council of the Trust has been deciding its fate. Visitor numbers have shown an encouraging increase over last year, along with income.
Alan Kinge (better known as Winchester's Town Crier) kindly let us show his researches into the local families who served with Bomber Command during the last war. In particular, the life of Flight Sergeant Antony Stone, who flew on the famous raid on the Ruhr dams (the Dambusters), and his family who traded in St Thomas Street. One comment in our visitors book was from a man who recollected seeing Antony Stone as a schoolboy during the war. Our new Mayor, Councillor Hibdige, opened the exhibition, and it was very pleasing to welcome John Nunn, a former Mayor, who featured in the exhibition. The Heritage Centre presented Alan Kinge with a photograph of the Battle of Britain Lancaster bomber flying over Winchester Cathedral, which was autographed by the new Mayor.
Alan Cooke again supplied his ever-popular "know-your-Winchester" quiz to the Hampshire Chronicle. As usual, Alan provided some real teasers. We were very pleased to welcome Alan Cleaver, the new Editor of the Hampshire Chronicle, to do the honours, having said farewell to the former Editor, Steve Robinson, earlier in the year. We are grateful to both Editors for their support of this competition over the years, and also to Mike Cornter of Wilds Sports who once again generously gave the Junior Prize.
It is always difficult to thank individuals in these last few months; our Manager, George Burnett, for his devotion to his task; Tony Hunter for backing him up, and for doing three duties in succession in a crisis; Jo Gordon Watson. who produced a most welcome £250 from the recent book sale, and Rosemary Smith who keeps the displays in order on a shoe-string.
So now it is no longer adieu, but good-bye for good.