Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum’s last coffee morning, held on 27th June, went really well. On 28th June, they also took part in the local Scouts Safari Sale, with tables set up in the garden at the back of the museum. Both events were very well attended and helped raise much-needed funds for the museum.
On 8th July, they welcomed students from Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy. By the time they left, the children and teachers looked as though they had been down a mine all day! The children were a pleasure to show around and asked lots of questions about mining and the history of the village. They each took a piece of coal home with them. Museum volunteers also enjoyed having a stall at the academy’s summer event on 25th July.
Volunteers at the Museum arranged a short service of remembrance at the bottom of Pit Lane to honour the miners who were killed or injured in the last disaster at Bilsthorpe Pit on 18th August 1993. The museum is always open on the anniversary for ex-miners and families to visit, remember and share their experiences of such a devastating event.
Their Autumn Coffee Morning will take place on Saturday 19th September, from 10.00am at the Museum on Cross Street. There will be bric-a-brac, jumble, books, toys, tombola and raffle prizes — not forgetting the cakes, of course. Entry is 50p and includes a hot drink. Please go along and join them on the day.
The team are looking for someone who can join them to help in the office by bringing their acquisitions log up to date, writing reports and making posters for events. If you can spare an hour or two on a Sunday or Wednesday, please visit them and meet the award-winning volunteers. You would be very welcome to join them, especially if you are adaptable and enthusiastic about history.
It does not matter if you know nothing about mining — they taught their Chair, who came from south of the Watford Gap, and would be very happy to share their knowledge with you too. To contact them, email Bilsthorpe_heritage@yahoo.co, pop in for a chat, or ring Cris on 07443 439499. Please leave a message if there is no answer, as the mobile signal has a habit of dropping out in the village.