Friends' 30 year Celebrations held 7 July 2023

 Last Friday we held a party for the members of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery at Christ Church Community Centre; it was 30 years and a day after the first meeting of the Friends was held in the main gallery in Apsley House when our Patron Desmond Morris and the Mayor, Doreen Dart were present, along with 160 guests. We have been planning the event for almost a year, inviting former Chairs Ray Ward and Paul Ricketts to our committee's Christmas meal to ask for their ideas and whether they would be involved; they readily agreed to speak and bring slides of  the ceramics collection. Members of the committee really played to their strengths and pulled together to ensure the evening ran really smoothly, with barely a hitch. 

Barbara designed a plan of the room, bought cheese and biscuits, made vegan cakes and did masses of washing up, Brigid made the big cake and bought a topper for it which arrived 2 hours before the party. Rosemary and Martin bought the wine and crisps and served it with David and Lynda who also got out chairs and helped clear away; they also washed the glasses at the end of the evening. Martin and Kate moved masses of chairs and tables before and after the event. The other Martin also helped with the tables and chairs. Angela persuaded people to buy raffle tickets. Politicians and museum professionals came and stayed rather than just dropping in, and the evening was warm without being too unbearably hot.

Friends had some 14 years or so ago, paid for the ceramics collection to be photographed, the resulting slides showed continuously during the proceedings which was really interesting. Many of them had been photographed from several angles so you could see them really well. The running order was as follows:

• 18.45 arrive
• 19.00 canapes from Olive Tree cafe served and chatting
• 19.15 speakers:
• Paul Ricketts Friends' history 
• Ray Ward Friends' talks series
• John Walsh the Journals
• Martin Newman archaeology
• 20.00 eat cheese and biscuits, watch slides, look at Journals and chatting
• 20.15 Cake cutting
• 20.30 raffle drawing
• 21.00 end

Of course it was difficult to keep to the times, but hopefully there was the right balance of chatting and  entertainment. I didn't take any photographs, but was sent some photos after the event which I'll add here. Starting with my favourite one:

You wouldn't think the backs of people's heads would be so good, but it gives a feeling of being in the room; it was sent to me by Phil Dearden, Harold's grandson who is researching a book about his grandfather, has recently joined the Friends and drove from Kidderminster where he lives to be with us.

I've included these general photos of the audience sent by Barend whose empty chair can be seen below as he takes photos

He's captured quite a few smiles

Above introducing speakers and below with Paul Ricketts who was Chair of the Friends before I was

Another nice photo

Here's  Ray Ward talking:

 and below John Walsh, who was on the committee when I joined and talked very movingly about editing the Journals

And here's a photo of Martin Newman who is on the present committee talking about the importance of being an archaeological repository

Then came the cake cutting and the photo just before the cutting of the gorgeous cake with its topper.

and here's a better photo of the cake:

Above Kate, Gillian and Stan looking at a map Stan had brought for us to look at

Above Pauline and Martin Styles chatting

Above a general view of people milling around and below people chatting outside where it was a wonderfully balmy evening

Thank you to all those who came along to help us celebrate and to everyone who continues to support us and Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. I had hoped to have a quote from our Patron Desmond Morris who now he is living in Ireland, could not join us, but I'll pass it on when he gets in touch.