MARCH AND DISTRICT MUSEUM SOCIETY.
"Preserving March and District's Past. Inforn]ing its Future."
Chairn]an's Report November 2024.
Museum Trustees.
David Bates
Irene Bates
Nigel Denchfield
Susan Edgoose
Linda Gill
John Gowing
Gordon Thorpe
Membership Secretary
Vice-chairnian
Treasurer
Chairn]an
Non -Trustee Post Holders.
Brenda Bottrell
David Edwards
Collection Co-ordinator
Museum Archivist
Dear Museum Member,
It doesn't seem like five minutes since writing to you in 2023, crucially the
message remains the same, thank you for your ongoing interest and
support, the museum could not function without you. Thanks too for the
new volunteers who have joined us since last year, refreshingly bringing
new skills and perspectives to the process of research, maintenance and
presentation.
A variety of displays have been presented during the course of the year
celebrating, for example, the humble corn dolly to the relative
sophistication of1920s fornial attire. Items frorn our tapestry collection
have been focused upon as have some of our older manuscripts and books
dating from the 1500s which seldom see the light of day because of
obvious conservation concerns. The museum holds a wide variety of
material in store, how to access this always presents a problem. One
response h&s been the display of some articles from our reserve collection
being presented temporarily as a group rather than in a thematic context,
this can be challenging to view and certainly invites visitor questions.

Following the radical revamp of the History of the Fens in 2023, 2024 saw
the turn of our outside Agricultural Displays for attention. The fann
machinery was checked and repainted by the maintenance team and the
labelling was carefully examined by Margaret Williams who then
produced a series of unique painted illustrations that serve to explain the
use of each item in a detailed but accessible manner. The museum's
extensive model bus collection has also been reunited with a variety of
associated ephemera, tickets, clipping machines. conductors identity
badges all serving to capture an era of bus travel in the Fens prior to the
introduction of the plastic travel card.
Christmas at the museum was suitably festive, Fiona Davis's unique
museum volunteer tree gave museum supporters the opportunity to star as
ornaments! Foliage especially in the Victorian sitting room, gathered by
Linda, dressed the area to good effect. The museum once again opened in
support of local events notably the Christmas Fayre and the St Georges
Festival. However, with the main focus of celebration at the other end of
town and continued disruption caused by road works in the centre,
museum visitor numbers for these events remain subdued.
We continue to welcome visitors from home and abroad during 2024
among them travellers from France, Norway, Sweden the U.S.A , Australia
and South Africa. That said, organised adult group visits this year are
fewer than usual, perhaps caused by the gradual return by many to the
more consistent holiday patterns enjoyed pre-covid. However, this has
been more than compensated for by a significant increase in the number of
local school groups visiting the museum from all the March Primary
Schools. As one young scholar commented as he left the museum
following a school visit "this is the place to be"
We have been offered a wide variety of objects during the year, sadly
many of which we are unable to accept because they do not relate to the
locality or are duplicates of items all ready held. Items that have been
accepted include an original painting of the long gone Three Fishes Public
House, a number of rare photographs of buildings in March and most
recently a large number of March Grammar Schools, "Annual Lists"
donated by the Lockwood family. The latter will fill a number of gaps in
our existing collection. March Libraries offer of its historic collection of
maps of March has been gratefully received and the estate agents Grounds

decision to close their commercial office in the town has resulted in the
acquisition of a vast collection of fascinating documents which are
currently being evaluated for inclusion in our collection with non- local
items being offered by us to other museums in Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough.
Notable dates remembered this year include the 80th anniversary of Jim
Hocking's bravery in saving his bomber crew and March at the expense of
his OMTn life, with contacts re-established with Nambour Museum in
Australia, Jim's hometown. Similarly, Ben Gimbert and James Nightall's
courage in moving a burning ammunition train 80 years ago was
celebrated in Soham with the museum's support.
Museum talks have once again been well received and I would thank all
the speakers who came forward to deliver them. 2025's programme is
currently in preparation and suggestions as to topics would be gratefully
received. Our visit to Taff Gillingham's the" Great War Huts Project" in
May was strongly supported by members despite the distance to the venue.
One piece of very good news received by the museum this year was the
payment of £1 0,000 from the Post Code Lottery. When fjrst notified of the
award we were initially somewhat sceptical when asked for detailed
inforn]ation about the museum. In conversation with the Lottery however,
they pointed out that when the money for charities in the March area
became available they had carefully researched the museum and received
very positive local feedback about us, which in turn triggered the donation.
Needless to say this funding provides a very welcome boost to our
finances. I would thank Post Code Lottery for the money but also extend
thanks to those March residents who were consulted on and were
supportive of the museum receiving the money.
The museum has long had a rack selling a limited number of booklets and
postcards, this has recently been extended, on the initiative of Brenda
Bottrell, into a small shop selling low cost items that have not been
acquisitioned but offered by donors for sale for the benefit of the museum.
Hopefully this will create additional interest to visitors wishing to augment
their personal collections.
Publicising the museum remains an ongoing issue, to this end Margaret
Williams has produced a simple flyer highlighting the location and

contents of the museum, we envisage supplying these to other local
museums, hotels and attractions which should in turn support visitor
numbers throughout the area. If you operate an establishment that might
benefit from displaying these flyers please let the museum know.
Our museum trustees continue to be extremely hands on in tenns of
running the museum, the role is not an occasional attendance but an
ongoing commitment to maintaining the building and its collection and I
would take this opportunity of thanking them on your behalf. Thanks too
for the work of our collection co-ordinator and archivist, Discovering
March correspondent Peter Wright and all the volunteers who steward and
work in a variety of capacities throughout the museum.
Supporting the museum on an external basis it is vital that we
acknowledge the role of March Town Council, Sarah Lemmon, museum
member and Town Cle-lk, Godfrey Smith museum member and
independent auditor, Emma Bunbury Museum's Advisor and Helena
Rodwell our Accreditation Mentor, (a process yet to recover from the
disruption of covid). Finally, thanks to The Oliver Cromwell Hotel for
liaising with stewards so amicably.
Notice Of Museum A.G.M. Which will take place on Friday 8
November at 7.30 pm at St Peter's Church Hall, St Peters
Church, High Street, March, PE15 9JJ.
th
Copies of accounts will be available prior to the A.G.M. with hard copies
of all documents available on the night. All paid up members of March
Museum Society will be eligible to vote. Memberships are now due for
2025-2026 if you have not yet renewed
The A.G.M. will be immediately followed by a talk by Museum Archivist
David Edwards titled -"War Memorials of Cambridgeshire" which will
take an unusual look at some of the counties memorials, some dating back
to 1854.
I very much look fonvard to seeing you all there on the 8th and I would
once again thank you for your interest in and support for March Museum.
Kind regards Gordon Thorpe.
March and District Museum Society Chairn]an.
811012024.

MARCH and rMsTR1￿MUSEUI1*
(Re￿stered Charity Nurt*r 2661151
AECEIPTS & PA￿￿ENTs ACCOUPIT FOR￿ YEAR EN[￿0*5ÉpTEl1*ER J)24
GENERALAccouKr
IrKome
&Jbstrfptlo
Donatlons
Meeiin85 Incow*
Vlst Sncom*
S8k of Cards. Positards & Boohr*rks
of Books
Sa￿ ofgoods
Post cod2 LotteryGrant
Camb5 & Hunts Fammy HlstorySoclety(broth)rb
book proiertor t<)xesyantfrom CamWesNreCC
Fkntocoples
364.CKI
I￿.45
554.80
11.50
197.$0
83.32
i(xJ.io
37.50
J.c
I￿￿+.
625 1))
33.76
3,577.57
Expendhu
Exhlilts & malrtenarKe
8oDk dskqaybDxes
(Xwly￿nneIs
Prlntin& Portage, S¢otk>nery
Modes Fast Plosts, websecurty& techm
Equlpment pwchases
Meetin85 ExpE#MS
stt e¥pense5
SJndryExpenses
bs¢rlptA)rts
245.74
122.53
638.36
163.20
147.24
2￿.8?
236.Bg
254.Q)
119.(1)
2￿.39
320.40
2CQ.ryJ
7QC
IA69.$3
12A64.23
SA22.9)
18,287 13
47.334.24
65&21.37
2,039.88
1.537.69
6,42S.39
7,963.08
39.371.16
47,334.24
£￿560f￿£0m*OWr•XP•nd1tt￿•dufv￿th*V•lI
Tr•nsf•rfrom Pr•ThAMs•¢¢o¥nt
Ba•ncebMuihtlor¥A
c•rrlod lorwavd
Pl1£M￿£sA¢¢￿NT
MarchTown Courxll Gr•rrt
fthTown CowKII- nkry1rrt•￿rKeVJrrt
ii,ctsJ.
2.614.63
.fa
3.669.67
15W.67
dltu
Rent
Repalrs &MaiMenance
Water& Sewerage
Electricty
Ga5
Telepho
Securbiv
Insurar
160.77
95&41
L23
77.98
288.93
913.84
Its0.94
LW.52
1310.40
?18.72
7219.24
74&X9
3A4&77
6AKU(XI
Trar&ferto Repairs & [le￿rab"0ll
9W77
s￿2.
7.219.24
6.425.39
SurpbJsto Generèl Fur

MARCH and DISTfiicTMU5EUM SOC*
IRewstered Charity Number2661151
BALANCE $￿ErAT30StPTEmBÉR2I124
aala￿e$ at Bank
Natwest Liquh4ity Manager
NatWe5t ReseNe Accowrt
Natwest Currentktount
Cash Floats ar*J cash In haryl
151￿.￿j
73,982.23
3,227.2S
35.11
92.244.59
92.629.56
9939.80
I￿1?9.05
Represented by
GENERAL FUND
shown In Retelpts & Paw￿nts kcol
65AI.37
47,334.24
REPAIR & DECOAATIC*4 ￿tR¥£ FUNO
BJhnce brouthtfopwanl
Interest
Trdnst•rlrom Premtsts k¢ourt
44910.35
1.647.33
6,LYX).(XI
43,%3.64
946.71
52557.68
44.910.35
IW179.05
92.244.S9
Ind•pendent Ex•mkn*sReport to th•TYu5t••sof Mlrth and fArtrtrtMwswm So¢kty
l T¢p)rt to the trustees onrnyeXaTr￿￿￿ ofthE •CfOWrt50f the otrthtdwr1tyffyTnL￿IfoithI yearended 30th
September 2024
l•sponwlbllUes and b•thof rryort
A5 the charftytnJstees of theTntst, you are resp)ns*Aeforth• ￿￿ra￿on¢ftr* •¢¢owts kn accordarKe whh the
reqU1￿me￿$01 the Charlllés kt 2011 Trhe kl"
I report in respect of myexamlnatlon ol tht Tntyi's accouts caTTledout urthr sectjon 145 of the 2011 and in Cafry*
out my eMèmln8tioTr. I haw followed the aF$41cakle Dlrettbr6 tythÈ Chrflles CoMr￿SSION un&r5ection 1451Sllbl
oftPe kt.
Independent •Mmkne¢sststement
I have completed myexamlnatlon. I conflrm that ￿ rnaterfal Matte￿ havecorrtto myattentlon In conr*¢tlorswlth the
ExamiTrarlan wlith afve5 rne causeto bel￿ that In, anyrnaterlal ieskxrt:
. accout)tlwrecoTd5 were Mt kept in accortsnce wIths*c￿n 130of thekt or
. Ihe accounts du notaccord Vththe a¢¢ountryreconls
I ￿v8 rbD coficerrts 8rMI h*¥e come mattetsin toro*¢lknntAiththE VAaminatlon to ¥hMchatt•rtion shO￿d
bet*awn In orderto enat4e wopertlh*rtaThtr8ofth¢4¢¢o￿rt5 to be reac￿￿
(*dlr•¥Smlih
Chartered kcount- eniland & Wal
3 Mills Garden5. March PEIS ¥B

MARCH and rMsTR1￿MUSEUI1*
(Re￿stered Charity Nurt*r 2661151
AECEIPTS & PA￿￿ENTs ACCOUPIT FOR￿ YEAR EN[￿0*5ÉpTEl1*ER J)24
GENERALAccouKr
IrKome
&Jbstrfptlo
Donatlons
Meeiin85 Incow*
Vlst Sncom*
S8k of Cards. Positards & Boohr*rks
of Books
Sa￿ ofgoods
Post cod2 LotteryGrant
Camb5 & Hunts Fammy HlstorySoclety(broth)rb
book proiertor t<)xesyantfrom CamWesNreCC
Fkntocoples
364.CKI
I￿.45
554.80
11.50
197.$0
83.32
i(xJ.io
37.50
J.c
I￿￿+.
625 1))
33.76
3,577.57
Expendhu
Exhlilts & malrtenarKe
8oDk dskqaybDxes
(Xwly￿nneIs
Prlntin& Portage, S¢otk>nery
Modes Fast Plosts, websecurty& techm
Equlpment pwchases
Meetin85 ExpE#MS
stt e¥pense5
SJndryExpenses
bs¢rlptA)rts
245.74
122.53
638.36
163.20
147.24
2￿.8?
236.Bg
254.Q)
119.(1)
2￿.39
320.40
2CQ.ryJ
7QC
IA69.$3
12A64.23
SA22.9)
18,287 13
47.334.24
65&21.37
2,039.88
1.537.69
6,42S.39
7,963.08
39.371.16
47,334.24
£￿560f￿£0m*OWr•XP•nd1tt￿•dufv￿th*V•lI
Tr•nsf•rfrom Pr•ThAMs•¢¢o¥nt
Ba•ncebMuihtlor¥A
c•rrlod lorwavd
Pl1£M￿£sA¢¢￿NT
MarchTown Courxll Gr•rrt
fthTown CowKII- nkry1rrt•￿rKeVJrrt
ii,ctsJ.
2.614.63
.fa
3.669.67
15W.67
dltu
Rent
Repalrs &MaiMenance
Water& Sewerage
Electricty
Ga5
Telepho
Securbiv
Insurar
160.77
95&41
L23
77.98
288.93
913.84
Its0.94
LW.52
1310.40
?18.72
7219.24
74&X9
3A4&77
6AKU(XI
Trar&ferto Repairs & [le￿rab"0ll
9W77
s￿2.
7.219.24
6.425.39
SurpbJsto Generèl Fur

MARCH and DISTfiicTMU5EUM SOC*
IRewstered Charity Number2661151
BALANCE $￿ErAT30StPTEmBÉR2I124
aala￿e$ at Bank
Natwest Liquh4ity Manager
NatWe5t ReseNe Accowrt
Natwest Currentktount
Cash Floats ar*J cash In haryl
151￿.￿j
73,982.23
3,227.2S
35.11
92.244.59
92.629.56
9939.80
I￿1?9.05
Represented by
GENERAL FUND
shown In Retelpts & Paw￿nts kcol
65AI.37
47,334.24
REPAIR & DECOAATIC*4 ￿tR¥£ FUNO
BJhnce brouthtfopwanl
Interest
Trdnst•rlrom Premtsts k¢ourt
44910.35
1.647.33
6,LYX).(XI
43,%3.64
946.71
52557.68
44.910.35
IW179.05
92.244.S9
Ind•pendent Ex•mkn*sReport to th•TYu5t••sof Mlrth and fArtrtrtMwswm So¢kty
l T¢p)rt to the trustees onrnyeXaTr￿￿￿ ofthE •CfOWrt50f the otrthtdwr1tyffyTnL￿IfoithI yearended 30th
September 2024
l•sponwlbllUes and b•thof rryort
A5 the charftytnJstees of theTntst, you are resp)ns*Aeforth• ￿￿ra￿on¢ftr* •¢¢owts kn accordarKe whh the
reqU1￿me￿$01 the Charlllés kt 2011 Trhe kl"
I report in respect of myexamlnatlon ol tht Tntyi's accouts caTTledout urthr sectjon 145 of the 2011 and in Cafry*
out my eMèmln8tioTr. I haw followed the aF$41cakle Dlrettbr6 tythÈ Chrflles CoMr￿SSION un&r5ection 1451Sllbl
oftPe kt.
Independent •Mmkne¢sststement
I have completed myexamlnatlon. I conflrm that ￿ rnaterfal Matte￿ havecorrtto myattentlon In conr*¢tlorswlth the
ExamiTrarlan wlith afve5 rne causeto bel￿ that In, anyrnaterlal ieskxrt:
. accout)tlwrecoTd5 were Mt kept in accortsnce wIths*c￿n 130of thekt or
. Ihe accounts du notaccord Vththe a¢¢ountryreconls
I ￿v8 rbD coficerrts 8rMI h*¥e come mattetsin toro*¢lknntAiththE VAaminatlon to ¥hMchatt•rtion shO￿d
bet*awn In orderto enat4e wopertlh*rtaThtr8ofth¢4¢¢o￿rt5 to be reac￿￿
(*dlr•¥Smlih
Chartered kcount- eniland & Wal
3 Mills Garden5. March PEIS ¥B