A charity set up to support and promote a local museum has celebrated a major milestone while also saying goodbye to one of its longest-serving committee members.
The Friends of Braintree Museum celebrated its 30th birthday on March 1.
Formed in 1993, the charity was established to champion the work of the Braintree District Museum and the Warner Textile Archive.
The Braintree District Museum is located in the former Manor Street School.
It conserves and celebrates the history of Braintree and the surrounding areas, while also showing visitors what Victorian era education was like, given that Manor Street School was open in the 18th century.
After the school was finally closed in 1990, the charity was set up just a few years later.
At the celebratory event which saw 70 people attend, the charity gave thanks to Mike Bardell, one of the organisation’s longest committee members who is moving away.
Mike, who is known as the Bard of Braintree thanks to his extensive knowledge on the town’s history, was presented with a plaque and gift voucher.
During the event, poet John Jemison entertained the audience and performed a new poem written especially for the anniversary.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here