60th Anniversary Dinner June 2 2011
The Committee of the Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery organised a dinner in the Officers Mess at Stonehouse Barracks, Durnford Street, Plymouth, to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary in the presence of their Patron HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT.
Over forty Friends attended the dinner along with distinguished guests, the President of the Friends the Hon. George Lopes DL; Sarah Lopes, the High Sheriff of Devon; Lord and Lady Hunt of Wirral, outgoing International chairman of the English Speaking Union; Dr Donato Esposito, Art Historian and a Life Member of the Friends; the City Curator, Nicola Moyle, and the South West co-ordinator of the British Association of Friends of Museums Carol Richardson-Bunbury.
On arrival, the Duke spoke to all who attended before entering the beautifully laid out dining room. The last chairman of the Friends, Edward Hackett said grace before the dinner reflecting the Marines and other servicepersons serving abroad who are laying down their lives for peace.
The outstanding meal and the exquisite wines served were congratulated by all the guests. The Loyal Toast to the Queen was supplemented with a fine port.
The chairman of the Friends Michael Moore gave a short speech outlining the strength between the Friends and the Museum, by working together to achieve the aims of their constitution in raising funds to help in acquiring artefacts for public display, and to aid in the purchase of necessary items for different departments when called upon. He thanked the City Curator and her managers along with the ‘front of house’ staff, represented on the night by Mr Ian Cox, for all the support and assistance they have given the Friends over the years.
The City Curator Nicola Moyle followed by saying that the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and the Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery have had a long-standing and fruitful relationship over the last 60 years, and this relationship has made a vital contribution to the growth of the museum over this period: their support has enabled the museum to secure key acquisitions for the collections; they have helped the museum to improve its public offer to different audiences; and, just as importantly, the Friends have taken on museum projects that have directly improved the way collections are looked after. She closed by adding she very much looked forward to building on these achievements with the Friends in the future.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh spoke about his original introduction to the Friends when he became the Patron in 1952 when the Friends was called, ‘Friends of Buckland Abbey & Plymouth Museum -Buckland Abbey & Plymouth Art Collections Fund’. He then congratulated the Friends on all the hard work they had achieved over the past years in raising funds for the Museum, saying how hard it is nowadays to raise money as well as raising awareness. He also commented on the rising numbers of members of the charity and wished the Friends all the best in the future.
Hon. George Lopes DL gave a vote of thanks to HRH and wished him all the best for his own anniversary on 10 June. He also gave thanks to the Stonehouse Royal Marine Barracks and its staff for allowing the Friends to use their facilities and especially to Colour Sergeant Gary Chapman RM for all his help in making the event one to remember. He also congratulated the HMS Drake Volunteer Band under the leadership of Colour Sergeant Tim Wilson for an exciting selection of music during the proceedings.
The most delightful photograph of the night was one of a Marine escorting one of our members, Mrs Mathys, across the parade ground to the reception area. This photograph together with all the images of the dinner can be viewed on our Flickr page!
The Committee of the Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery organised a dinner in the Officers Mess at Stonehouse Barracks, Durnford Street, Plymouth, to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary in the presence of their Patron HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT.
Over forty Friends attended the dinner along with distinguished guests, the President of the Friends the Hon. George Lopes DL; Sarah Lopes, the High Sheriff of Devon; Lord and Lady Hunt of Wirral, outgoing International chairman of the English Speaking Union; Dr Donato Esposito, Art Historian and a Life Member of the Friends; the City Curator, Nicola Moyle, and the South West co-ordinator of the British Association of Friends of Museums Carol Richardson-Bunbury.
On arrival, the Duke spoke to all who attended before entering the beautifully laid out dining room. The last chairman of the Friends, Edward Hackett said grace before the dinner reflecting the Marines and other servicepersons serving abroad who are laying down their lives for peace.
The outstanding meal and the exquisite wines served were congratulated by all the guests. The Loyal Toast to the Queen was supplemented with a fine port.
The chairman of the Friends Michael Moore gave a short speech outlining the strength between the Friends and the Museum, by working together to achieve the aims of their constitution in raising funds to help in acquiring artefacts for public display, and to aid in the purchase of necessary items for different departments when called upon. He thanked the City Curator and her managers along with the ‘front of house’ staff, represented on the night by Mr Ian Cox, for all the support and assistance they have given the Friends over the years.
The City Curator Nicola Moyle followed by saying that the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and the Friends of Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery have had a long-standing and fruitful relationship over the last 60 years, and this relationship has made a vital contribution to the growth of the museum over this period: their support has enabled the museum to secure key acquisitions for the collections; they have helped the museum to improve its public offer to different audiences; and, just as importantly, the Friends have taken on museum projects that have directly improved the way collections are looked after. She closed by adding she very much looked forward to building on these achievements with the Friends in the future.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh spoke about his original introduction to the Friends when he became the Patron in 1952 when the Friends was called, ‘Friends of Buckland Abbey & Plymouth Museum -Buckland Abbey & Plymouth Art Collections Fund’. He then congratulated the Friends on all the hard work they had achieved over the past years in raising funds for the Museum, saying how hard it is nowadays to raise money as well as raising awareness. He also commented on the rising numbers of members of the charity and wished the Friends all the best in the future.
Hon. George Lopes DL gave a vote of thanks to HRH and wished him all the best for his own anniversary on 10 June. He also gave thanks to the Stonehouse Royal Marine Barracks and its staff for allowing the Friends to use their facilities and especially to Colour Sergeant Gary Chapman RM for all his help in making the event one to remember. He also congratulated the HMS Drake Volunteer Band under the leadership of Colour Sergeant Tim Wilson for an exciting selection of music during the proceedings.
The most delightful photograph of the night was one of a Marine escorting one of our members, Mrs Mathys, across the parade ground to the reception area. This photograph together with all the images of the dinner can be viewed on our Flickr page!
