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Friends Christmas Party
Talk: AmDram ProDram by Peter Bates
Wed 4th Dec 2024, 16:30 - 18:30
Drawing upon his 70+ years in the theatre, on stage, back stage and in the audience, Peter talked of his early days at school, through Cambridge, and for over 50 years on and off the Henfield stage in association with the venerable Henfield Players and today's Henfield Theatre Company.
We were privileged to hear some exquisite titbits and a few fine theatrics thrown in!
We were privileged to hear some exquisite titbits and a few fine theatrics thrown in!
From left: unknown friend of Paul Murden, Anne Hubner, Doreen Barclay, Doreen Wheeler, Peter Bates, seen in the Henfield Players' 1975 production of 'The Heiress'. A 1947 adaptation of Henry James' 1880 novel 'Washington Square', it was made into a 4x Oscar winning film two years later with Olivia de Havilland
Some of our projects...
Annual General Meeting
Talk: Farming in the '40s and '50s' by Peter Bates
Thurs 9th May 2024, 19:00
After an update on Friends and museum projects, AGM business and the election of the committee, a talk by Peter Bates followed, entitled 'Farming in the '40s and '50s'.
This was Peter's personal story based on his first 20 years, brought up on a 48 acre, small mixed farm smallholding in the Weald of Kent (Smarden) with 12 cows, 3 pigs, 30 sheep, 50 chicken and a cart horse - no mains water until 1947, nor mains electricity until 1962. He brought with him some artefacts from that era, including his mother's Tilley iron in its original (somewhat tattered) box and a selection of photographs and documents.
This was Peter's personal story based on his first 20 years, brought up on a 48 acre, small mixed farm smallholding in the Weald of Kent (Smarden) with 12 cows, 3 pigs, 30 sheep, 50 chicken and a cart horse - no mains water until 1947, nor mains electricity until 1962. He brought with him some artefacts from that era, including his mother's Tilley iron in its original (somewhat tattered) box and a selection of photographs and documents.
Our HistoryFrom an initial steering group, the Friends of Henfield Museum formed in 2014 under the first Chair, longtime local resident and supporter of the museum Wynn Saunders - to whose initial energy the group owes its existence. From 2017-21 and again from 2022, Robert Gordon served as Chairman, with Leo Jago serving from 2021-22.
From amongst their members, the Friends are run by their committee, the Chair & Vice Chair also sitting on the Parish Council Museum management committee. Our ProjectsIn addition to providing a funding source for museum acquisitions, the Friends carry out various projects and visits to historical and cultural attractions as well as occasional talks. A few of the projects currently organised or supported include:
We sincerely hope that you might be tempted to join us in supporting the museum's mission of bringing Henfield's history to life for the whole community. Robert S. Gordon Chairman, The Friends of Henfield Museum |
Friends visit to East Grinstead for a tour of the new Guinea Pig exhibit and statue of Archibald McIndoe, July 2018.
Wynn Saunders (1935 - 2019), founding force and first Chair of the Friends of Henfield Museum
The second and fourth Chair Robert Gordon finds his calling with a cabinet of crime on a visit to Brighton Old Police Cells Museum, November 2018
3rd Friends Chairman Leo Jago caught kidnapping a costume, Village Evening, March 2020
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A museum volunteer shows off the Luto Collection in 2019. Photo: Christophe Fernandez
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A sepia Friends outing to Seaford Museum followed by Trawlers Fish & Chip restaurant, July 2015
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The Friends Newsletter Archive
We periodically release newsletters to our members. They feature leading articles on aspects of local history, historical images and museum and heritage project updates from the Chair, Curator and Costume Curator.
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Newsletter 1, Spring 2015
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Newsletter 2, Autumn 2016
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Newsletter 3, Winter 2017-18
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Newsletter 4, Winter 2018-19
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Newsletter 5, Winter 2019-2020
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Newsletter 6, Winter 2020-21
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Newsletter 7 (2021 Retrospective), Winter 2021-22
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Newsletter 8 (2022 Retrospective), Winter 2022-23
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Newsletter 9 (2023 Retrospective), Winter 2023-24
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