Fantastic Havering Museum Singing And Dancing Into A New Era.

On Saturday 7 June, Havering Museum celebrated not one, but two anniversaries; the Museum celebrated 15 years of being open in the former Romford Brewery Sports and Social Club, High Street, Romford premises, and the Friends of Havering Museum celebrated 25 years. 

The Friends were the founding group, who after ten years, established the museum and continued to fundraise and promote the museum. Since 2013 the museum has been volunteer led and it achieved full museum accreditation in 2019. 

Chair of the Havering Museum, Andrew Curtin opened the formalities with a witty and amusing presentation which blended the history of Havering, with the contribution the Museum had made to cultural, social, economic and civic life in Havering. 

This was a day of celebration for present and past volunteers and Board members and acted as a big thank you to all the business partners who supported the museum along the way and the Museums regular visitors and supporters. 

The Trustees of the Museum were delighted to welcome civic guests including The Deputy Mayor of Havering, Councillor Barry Mugglestone and Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Stephanie Mugglestone. Two Members of Parliament were present, Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, and Margaret Mullane MP for Dagenham and Rainham. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councilllor Williamson, was also present and he encouraged those present to respond to the Council’s Consultation of the Romford Conservation Area. Directors and Trustees of the Museum, Steve Crouch, Peter Hale, Nick Wilkes and Jane Keane were also in attendance.

Mr Brian Evans, historian and museum director was confirmed as the first Patron of the Museum in honour of decades of support. Gifts of wine were also presented to volunteers, Ellen Owen Sponsorship and Events Manager, Ann Young, Volunteer Manager, Peter Owen, Photographic Group Facilitator, and Lorraine Morris Picton, the Collections Lead for their outstanding work in their areas. 

Former workers, volunteers, funders, sponsors, and advisors dropped in throughout the event. Ann Young presented long service cards to Ellen and Peter Owen and Keith Martin for their 15 years of volunteering.

To round off the celebrations, the Romford Ceilidh Band, led guests in singing and dancing to reels, jigs and polkas. Jane, told the Havering Daily: “What a first for the Museum, singing and dancing in its galleries.” 

Reflecting on the event and twenty five years of fundraising that has supported the Museum, Ellen Owen, said, “We continue to be more than a museum. We are a community of people celebrating Havering’s heritage, by gathering and sharing people’s stories, to inspire the next generation. The Friends play a significant part of the museum and will continue to do so. 

Andrew Curtin finished: “It was a memorable day and we are all confident that the next fifteen years will be equally memorable.”

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