News Desk

Since the August Newsletter the Museum has continued to be open every Wednesday and each first Sunday of the month. There has been a steady flow of visitors who have all admired the new layout and exhibits.

School Workshops have now recommenced and our Educational Guidelines have been sent out to all Merton schools. We were pleased to welcome Furzedown Primary School from Streatham making their first visit to us, for two separate textile workshops.

Volunteers

We had a very successful Volunteers' Quarterly Lunch in October when 18 volunteers came along including our former Treasurer Lisa Barnes and her new baby Annamarie. Once again our volunteers enjoyed an excellent lunch prepared by Mary Hart.

We are sorry to report that our longtime Volunteer Archivist Marguerite Lee-Delisle has had to resign due to ill health. Marguerite has been involved with the Museum for over 20 years right since its formation and has always worked quietly and efficiently filing the records, information and photographs about the industries of the River Wandle and all the happenings and events in the life and history of the Wandle Industrial Museum and its members. Marguerite has been troubled with arthritis over the years and now feels that she needs to retire and spend more time at home. She will be very much missed. However she has assured us she will always be on hand to offer advice and help.

Archivist, Marguerite Lee-Delisle [61.7kb]

We are pleased to welcome a new Volunteer to help out on Sundays and at Fetes and Fairs, Kathy McAndrew, and a further prospective volunteer David Evans will possibly be joining us in the future. Both these volunteers came to us via the Merton Volunteer Bureau based in the Vestry Hall.

S Wimbledon Community Centre provided a fine room for our AGM [30.3kb]

The Annual General Meeting took place on 4th November at the South Wimbledon Community Association in Haydons Rd. We were very pleased to welcome the Mayor of Merton Councillor Margaret Brierly who stayed all evening and drew the tickets for the raffle which raised £70 for Museum funds.

We owe a debt to all our volunteers who have worked so hard since January of this year to clean out the Museum and re-organise all the exhibits. There is still some more work to be sorted out 'backstage' and lots of black bin bags have been taken to the dump.

After the Business Meeting, and refreshments provided by Mary Hart (a delicious selection of fine English cheeses (sourced from Derek Cook at the Merton Abbey Mills market) and delicious puddings of her own creation, member Judith Goodman gave a most interesting and informative slide lecture about Nelson in Merton. It was most appropriate that the lecture was held in the very area where Nelson and Lady Hamilton once lived at Merton Place. See also Nelson 2005 below.

The Mayor, Cllr Margaret Brierly, talking to John Hawks and Nicholas Hart [41.8kb]

We had a very successful Volunteers' Quarterly Lunch in July at which we were pleased to welcome Connie Huxtable. As you know her late husband Derek managed the Museum shop for us over many years. If any of our members or friends who read this Newsletter feel they would like to help run the shop, can they ring me at the Museum on 020 8648 0127. We also need volunteer helpers to fill in on Wednesdays when regular volunteers are on holiday or off sick, or to help at Fetes or Fairs, or join the Sunday Opening Rota. If you feel you could offer help in this way please give me a ring and we can have a chat about it.

	We wish all our Members and friends a very happy Christmas and thank them for all their support over the year.

Subscriptions

For 2004-2005 are now due and a Subscription reminder is enclosed. Prompt payment would be appreciated.

Future Events

The Annual Christmas Party will be held at the Museum on Thursday December 9th at 7-OOpm. We do hope a great number of you will be able to attend- an Invitation is enclosed with this Newsletter.

Sheila Harris November 2004