WESTBURY Museum volunteer, Lynne Mason, is the latest recipient of the George Nichols Cup as a tribute to her work in promoting the town’s heritage.
The cup was initially given in memory of well-known local personality George Nichols, who ran a menswear shop in Maristow Street. George was well known for promoting Westbury and for promoting St George’s Day, 23rd April, when he would walk around the town in his special costume of St George, handing out red roses to passers-by. He led a campaign to make St George’s Day a national holiday in England and presented his petition to Parliament. George’s costume is now part of the museum collection.
Retired accountant Lynne, who moved to the UK from New Zealand in 2000, started volunteering at Westbury Museum when it moved into its current premises in the town library. Since then, she has become a valued member of the team, volunteering in the museum, helping with displays and exhibitions, and using her accountancy skills to handle the museum’s finances.
Lynne says she has been a history fan since childhood and admits to reading all the works of historical novelist Jean Plaidy at just 11 years of age, as well as studying history at school.
“I have always been interested in history and working in the museum is great,” she said. “Westbury has an interesting history and I really enjoy meeting people and expanding my knowledge of the town’s heritage by hearing their memories.”
The museum has extended its current exhibition about hospitals and health services until the end of May. The next exhibition will focus on Westbury 150 years ago.
The team who run the museum are always looking for more volunteers to help with a variety of tasks from greeting the public to helping with research.
Find out more at www.westburyheritagesociety.org.uk or pop into the museum and have a chat.
