29/1/2010Rotary members hear plea for museum's future
Tom O'Leary spoke about North Ayrshire Museum to this week's meeting of the Rotary Club
Thursday night's meeting of Ardrossan and Saltcoats Rotary Club was very well attended by members and guests, who heard guest speaker for the evening Tom O'Leary from the North Ayrshire Museum Services.
Tom's earlier career was in the ministry but his topic for the evening was about his current role in the North Ayrshire Museum, Saltcoats.
Tom remarked that he thought of himself as "more a "Janny" than a curator!" He outlined the history of the museum from its founding by Owen Kelly in 1958, in what had previously been the Parish Church of Ardrossan, through its incorporation into the local authority in 1972, to the present, where possible budget cuts may result in a new direction.
Like many such institutions today there are plans to attempt to digitise the collection. Tom spoke about discovering a letter linking the Belfast-born artist Sir John Lavery with local artist R S Workman, 12 of whose watercolours the museum possesses.
Tom made a reasoned and passionate plea for the continuation of the museum as a place both of contemplation and of learning. Finishing with the remark "Ye cann no huv a museum!" Rotarian Alex Glen offered an amusing and eloquent vote of thanks.
Rotarian Anne McGrattan, who is also the head teacher of James McFarlane school, was delighted to announce that, thanks to local Rotary clubs and to the community, the initial fund-raising target for the school's new sensory room, of £10,000, has been met.
A matching lottery grant will now allow the work to start. The final arrangement were agreed for the Annual Burns Supper on Saturday 30th January. Guest speakers include Iain Doole, Rob Ferguson and the Rev Fiona Ross. Contact any club member for tickets.
Tom's earlier career was in the ministry but his topic for the evening was about his current role in the North Ayrshire Museum, Saltcoats.
Tom remarked that he thought of himself as "more a "Janny" than a curator!" He outlined the history of the museum from its founding by Owen Kelly in 1958, in what had previously been the Parish Church of Ardrossan, through its incorporation into the local authority in 1972, to the present, where possible budget cuts may result in a new direction.
Like many such institutions today there are plans to attempt to digitise the collection. Tom spoke about discovering a letter linking the Belfast-born artist Sir John Lavery with local artist R S Workman, 12 of whose watercolours the museum possesses.
Tom made a reasoned and passionate plea for the continuation of the museum as a place both of contemplation and of learning. Finishing with the remark "Ye cann no huv a museum!" Rotarian Alex Glen offered an amusing and eloquent vote of thanks.
Rotarian Anne McGrattan, who is also the head teacher of James McFarlane school, was delighted to announce that, thanks to local Rotary clubs and to the community, the initial fund-raising target for the school's new sensory room, of £10,000, has been met.
A matching lottery grant will now allow the work to start. The final arrangement were agreed for the Annual Burns Supper on Saturday 30th January. Guest speakers include Iain Doole, Rob Ferguson and the Rev Fiona Ross. Contact any club member for tickets.