News

Monday 26th March marked the end of Fiona Marwick’s term as Curator.  Fiona first started as Secretary and Curator in 1986 and served until 2007, leaving to bring up family and then returning part-time in 2012.  She brought much experience to the Museum and was its first qualified curator.  For 30 years her name has been synonymous with the Museum and she brought it to its present highly-regarded position.The Museum Trust also welcomes Vanessa Martin, Spean Bridge, as the next Curator who will have Fiona as mentor for a period.  Vanessa has had much voluntary experience of museums elsewhere and has carried out several tasks for the West Highland Museum over the past 7 years, particularly helping gain accreditation from Museum Galleries Scotland.Colleen Barker will remain as Manager.Marking the changes, John Hutchison, Chairman said, “Past and present trustees are very grateful for Fiona’s professionalism and dedication to the Museum and we wish her well in her other interests.  We are also delighted to welcome Vanessa Martin who joins our strong team.”

With effect from 1st April 2018, the organisation running the Museum will be the West Highland Museum Trust.  As was intimated at the 2017 AGM, the Museum Trustees unanimously decided to seek consent from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to wind up the trust deed governed body, the West Highland Museum and transfer assets to the new WHMT, a charitable company limited by guarantee.  The new WHMT is company number SC581556 and Scottish Charity number SC047954.  OSCR has now given consent and the transfer is in progress.    This is a significant move by the Museum and follows the route taken by many long-established charities that desire to modernise their governance.Responsibility for oversight of the operation of the Museum will now sit with the board of directors, rather than be shared with a Management Committee.  While the Trustees must remain in place until the entire assets are transferred, the Management Committee has ceased to function.  The Chairman of Trustees attended the last meeting of the Management Committee on 28th March and expressed thanks on behalf of Trustees for their sterling work over many years.