Chiddingstone Castle Volunteer picks up prestigious Award at The British Museum

The British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust announce the winners of 2015 volunteer awards celebrating the hard work and many achievements of the museum volunteers. The aim of the ‘Volunteers for Museum Learning’ award is to recognise those volunteers who work directly with museum visitors in any capacity, from working with school groups, manning the information desk, leading a guided tour, or any other way the volunteers give that little bit extra to make the museum such a great experience for visitors

Mick Oakey was the winner for the South East Region of the Sussex Egyptology Society, who is a volunteer for the Egyptian Collection at Chiddingstone Castle.  There were a  very large number of applications received from across the UK for the awards, from both groups and individuals and the judges consisted of staff from the Marsh Trust and staff and volunteers from the British Museum.  The British Museum is pleased to host the awards, being very aware of the crucial contribution volunteers make to the well-being of the Museum and its enjoyment by the public.

Ali Ditzel, the director of the castle, said:  “We are absolutely delighted that Mick has won this prestigious award for his brilliant voluntary work at Chiddingstone Castle. Helped along by the enthusiasm of Fiona Glossop (the Castle’s Education Officer), Mick conceived and created our remarkable and unique conceptual garden - the ‘Fields of Eternity’. 

Between 1955 and 1977 Chiddingstone Castle was the home of the gifted collector Denys Eyre Bower, who dedicated his life to collecting antiquities, many of which are still on display to this day. The castle currently is host to a collection of 8,000 objects form all over the globe, from: Japanese lacquer, armour and swords; to Ancient Egyptian artefacts; to Royal Stuart and Jacobite portraits, letters, manuscripts, pamphlets and memorabilia; and Buddhist objects. There are also many other miscellaneous objects including, barrel organs, furniture and stunning tapestires, along with his vast library which was has been open to the public since 2015.

Joanna Mackle, Deputy Director of the British Museum said “Museums could not reach and inspire the large number of people that they do each year without the commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers. The Marsh Awards recognise the invaluable contribution of volunteers in museums across the country and we are very grateful to the Marsh Christian Trust for acknowledging this work”

For more information about Chiddingstone Castle and its collection, please click HERE