Press Release - 6/12/2004

Chesham Museum - The Stables achieves Charitable Status

Chesham Museum - The Stables received confirmation last week that their application to the Charity Commissioners for listing had been accepted and that they were now a Registered Charity.

The Museum, which opened in August this year behind the Gamekeepers Lodge in Bellingdon Road, had been undergoing the registration process since formally adopting its Constitution in May 2004.

Sue Gordon, Hon. Chair of the Trustees and Committee said "This is another significant step forward in the permanent establishment of a museum for Chesham. Charity status will enable us to use more of our limited funds to directly benefit the Museum as well as giving those who donate or loan items to the Museum greater confidence because of the strict responsibilities imposed upon the Trustees by the Charity Commissioners." She added "We have already been able to establish good links with other museums in the area and hope that our new status will enable us to forge closer ties with other local organizations such as the Francis Trust and Chess Valley Archeological and Historical Society. The Francis Trust in particular have a small collection of objects relating to Chesham's history and we would welcome a cooperative effort to put these items on display for the public."

Mora Walker, President of the Museum, said "Over 500 people have visited the Museum in its first three months of operation and we have been trying to encourage local people to become Friends of the Museum. As a charity we can look into the benefits of 'gift aid' which will enable us to reclaim tax on Friends Membership subscriptions."

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