LYME Regis Museum Volunteer Lizzie Wiscombe is recognised for her outstanding contribution to ‘Museum Learning’ at a prestigious award ceremony at the British Museum.
The Marsh Awards for Volunteering recognises the outstanding contributions that volunteers make to museum learning across the country. Presented by the Marsh Charitable Trust in the fields of science, ecology, conservation, heritage, literature and volunteering.
Lizzie, who is partially sighted, was joint winner of the award for the South-West, and travelled to the British Museum on 23rd September to collect her award from Brian Marsh OBE and British Museum Trustee Clarissa Farr, along with her Guide Dog ‘Baden’, Volunteer Lin Paterson and Museum Director, British Houseago.
Lizzie has been a volunteer at Lyme Regis Museum for over ten years, and alongside her regular volunteering slot welcoming visitors and groups to the museum, she delivers living history sessions in museum, mentors and trains new volunteers, helps with Museum events, such as Halloween and Fossil Polishing, and in her spare time crafts Dorset Buttons which she donates to the Museum shop to sell.
When the film ‘Ammonite’ was filmed in the town in 2019, starring Kate Winslet as Mary Anning, Lizzie became the British star's unofficial voice coach for the film. Experts at the Museum were already working with the film crew as technical advisors when they were asked if they knew someone who could help Winslet perfect the Dorset accent and Lizzie, who was born and bred in Lyme Regis, was the perfect person for the job and was very happy to volunteer!
Bridget said: “Lizzie is a remarkable role model and stalwart volunteer. Despite many challenges, she has an outstanding positive attitude, is a resolute and dependable volunteer and invaluable member of our team. We are so delighted that her dedication has been recognised with this prestigious award.”
Jonathan Evans, Chair of the Trustees at Lyme Regis Museum added “It’s great to see this well-deserved recognition for Lizzie herself and also for the invaluable volunteer team at Lyme Regis Museum. Smaller independent museums such as ours could not survive without the support of our volunteers who staff the front desk, conduct research, aid with curation and help with a wide range of other activities. Our volunteers come from very diverse backgrounds and all bring their experience and energy to the museum team. Congratulations Lizzie (and Baden)!”
Have you ever thought about volunteering? Lyme Regis Museum is always keen to welcome friendly and enthusiastic people to their team – no experience necessary! To find out more please contact us the Museum on: museum@lymeregismuseum.co.uk, call on 01297 443370 or just pop in for a chat.