A Word from the Friends of Marlipins Museum

Marlipins Museum opened its doors at the beginning of May. In readiness for the new season we had a day of cleaning and preparing the museum for visitors. As usual, the response from our volunteers was heartwarming.

Volunteers who have been helping for a number of years were welcomed back and we were also very happy to have new volunteers who quickly became part of our valued team.

The museum has attracted a record number of visitors this year. Although only open from May to October, and for just three days a week, attendance figures are well up on previous years. Written two weeks before the season ends, we estimate that we have had nearly 4,000 visitors. The really nice thing is that of that figure over 500 were children.

This year we have set up more colouring facilities for children, with coloured pencils, and pictures for colouring. A child-sized table and chairs were purchased by the Friends of the museum and have proved very popular. So much so, that children have asked their parents to revisit us, sometimes three or four times during the school holidays.

Marly the cat – a fluffy ginger toy – has watched over the treasure hunt set up on the ground floor. Children (and some adults it must be said) have enjoyed finding and ticking off the list the hidden treasures to be found.

For the first time this year, Marlipins Museum hosted an event for Wordfest, an annual event that has taken place in Shoreham for a number of years. A theatre group performed a play, using historical characters from Shoreham’s past. This was very well written and acted, and hugely enjoyed by their audiences.

To wrap up our final day of the season, we ran a Marvellous Mummy Lantern Making Workshop for children and their families to get stuck into some fun, creative activities. And we might be biased, but we think they did a fantastic job!

 

A very busy year, but not over yet. We will be decorating a Christmas Tree for the annual tree decoration festival held in St Mary de Haura Church at the beginning of December. The tree will then be moved to the museum to be part of the decorations for the Christmas Fair being held on the 8^th and 9^th December, and we hope to see many of you joining us at the annual fair. Timings of the fair will be announced in the near future.

Friends Committee of Marlipins Museum