Haslemere Educational Museum receives Sandford Award

On 23rd August 2021, our assessor, Robin Clutterbuck attended a special event at Haslemere Educational Museum in Surrey to present the Education Team with their second Sandford Award on behalf of the Heritage Education Trust. As well as recognising the museum’s achievement, the event also celebrated Robin’s late sister-in-law, who was closely involved with Haslemere Museum as a volunteer for many years.

The presentation was warmly welcomed by the Education Team and became part of a bigger event celebrating the input of the volunteers and Robin’s late sister-in-law in particular.

Kay Topping, Education Officer at Haslemere Educational Museum commented: ‘The assessment has been a very positive experience all round - for the museum, the education officer, department, the other staff and trustees.  It is always so nice to be recognised for our work.’ Robin remarked: ‘What I took away from the day was the way that local museums have a power to instil a sense of belonging in a community - not just by holding its history but by offering people a shared enterprise based on altruistic values, beyond politics or commerce.’

Main photo (left to right): Sue Reynolds, volunteer; Sue Hancock, volunteer; Kay Topping, Education Officer; Robin Clutterbuck, Sandford Award assessor; Sir Jim Rose, Education Trustee and Julia Tanner, Curator.

Second photo (below): Robin exploring the museum's 'Dummy Mummy' beside Kay Topping