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Worcestershire. This makes its preservation absolutely vital. Over the last four years,
we have been hit badly by cuts in the Defence Budget. As a result of the closure of the Regimental Headquarters outstation at Norton Barracks, we have lost four
civil servants: the Retired Officer/Curator, the Museum Attendant and their clerical support. The only support provided by the Ministry of Defence now is an annual grant which is guaranteed only until 2016. Using that grant, and some income generated from our reserves, we have been able
to employ a professional curator for four days a week. This is proving to be hugely beneficial since Dr John Paddock brings with him a very high level of professionalism which we have never had before and which will be essential as we look to the future. Looming on the horizon is the unknown impact of very substantial cuts to the
local authority services and, in particular, Worcestershire County Council’s Museum service who hosts our Gallery display in the old library building on Foregate Street. We have no insight into what the consequences of these cuts may be. The Trustees of
the Museum have decided that the first priority must be to guarantee the position of our Curator by creating an Endowment Fund which will generate sufficient income to sustain his/her employment. In this
the Centenary year of the start of World War I, the Museum and its researchers are very busy with a growing number of enquiries from the public while a variety
of public and private organisations are seeking our involvement. It is so important that we play our part in these important commemorations.
The Museum needs your financial support now and in the future. There are a number of ways in which you can help such as a single donation, a regular donation or a bequest in a Will (a very tax-efficient way
to handle your estate). A very simple way
to maximise your donation(s) is to sign a Gift Aid form as the charity will benefit by
a further 25p for every £1 you donate. If you have not already made a donation
to the Appeal and if you wish to do so, please telephone Pamela or John on 01905 721982 and you will be sent a donor’s form. This form covers all of the options and returning it duly completed helps the Museum staff to ensure that our records are correct and that we can keep you informed about the Museum. I hope that we can rely on your support.
Finally, we say farewell and thanks to John Lowles. John has spent his whole working life, (and much of his retirement) dedicated to the Regiment. After a very successful career in uniform he became Regimental Secretary at Norton Barracks. Many may not realise that this role also entailed being ex-officio Curator of the Regimental Museum, a task which he approached with his usual dedication and meticulous attention to detail. He steered the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the grant that enabled the museum’s
Mark Jackson (L) is briefed by John Lowles on handover of the Chairmanship
display to be redesigned and updated within the Gallery of the Worcestershire Soldier in the Old Library in Foregate
Street. This was opened formally in 2003 by HRH The Princess Royal, Colonel in Chief The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. On retirement from the Regimental Secretary’s post, John’s total commitment to the museum continued with long service as a Trustee and Chairman
of the Board in addition to almost daily research work to
answer questions
and enquiries from
the Regimental family and the general public. The good health which the Museum enjoys today is entirely due to John. However, such extraordinary dedication and service cannot
last forever and, in March 2014, John decided that it was time to step down as Chairman and Trustee
and to limit his time to just two days a week
as a volunteer researcher. All
of us connected with the Regiment and the Museum are hugely grateful to John for all that he has done for the Museum and we are
very grateful indeed that
his encyclopaedic knowledge will still be available to us all in his new role.
If you have any item with any connection to the Regiments which you would be prepared to donate to the Museum, contact John Paddock and, if you have not done
so already, visit our new website at http:// worcestershiresoldier.org/ and even like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/WorcestershireSoldier.
The 36th Belt Badge
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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