The Museum receives a commissioning grant in order to be able to fund its two full time positions from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. As an accredited Museum, the organisation prides itself on recruiting highly qualified professional staff.
The Museum also has a Board of volunteer Trustees. The Board gives strategic leadership as well as supporting the Curator and Learning Officer.
Laura Irwin BA Hons, MSt - Curator and Executive Officer
Laura joined the Museum Team in February 2021.
Her background is in small museums and galleries and she previously held curatorial posts at Christ Church Picture Gallery and Dr Johnson’s House. She has also worked at Keats House and the Royal Academy of Music Museum.
Laura has a BA Hons in History from King’s College London and a MSt in British and European History from the University of Oxford.
She is particularly interested in social history and is looking forward to working with the Museum’s collection and developing its programme of exhibitions.
Please contact her by email with any enquiries: curator@museumofrichmond.com
Victoria McGrath, BA Hons, MA, AMA - Learning and Audience Development Officer
Vicky joined the Museum in October 2016, bringing over 10 years of experience of working in Museums and Heritage Education. Before taking up her current role, Vicky was the Learning Manager at Bucks County Museum and the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery.
Vicky has a BA Hons in History from the University of Sheffield and a Masters in Heritage, Education and Interpretation from the University of Newcastle. She has an Enhanced DBS Check and in December 2016 was awarded the Associateship of the Museums Association (AMA)
She is looking forward to expanding the educational opportunities at the Museum. If you have any suggestions about what else we can offer, please email her: learning@museumofrichmond.com
Hilda Clarke - Chair of the Board of Trustees
Hilda Clarke joined the Museum of Richmond as Chair of the Board of Trustees in January 2018. Hilda has a wealth of experience from her working life as a History teacher, and later as a Headteacher, first of Langley Grammar School and then of Tiffin School in Kingston upon Thames.
As well as Chairing the Museum’s Board Hilda is also Chair of Governors, Kingston Adult Education and a member of Tiffin Girls’ School Academy Trust.
Hilda lived in Richmond for 16 years and has a strong interest in the local area. With a particular love of socio-economic history, her skills and knowledge fit the Museum’s collection and mission.
She is most looking forward to the next phase of development of the Museum and its continued success in providing exhibitions and programmes to interest the many visitors to the Museum from the local area and beyond.
Lord Lee of Trafford DL - Deputy Chair
Lord Lee was appointed to the House of Lords as a Lib Dem Peer in 2006, having been a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1979 to 1992. He was Minister of Tourism from 1987 to 1989. Over the years he has held a number of roles in the Tourism and Heritage sector – he has been chair of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) since its formation in 1990 and chaired the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester for 9 years.
Lord Lee sits on the Development Committee of The Poppy Factory. Many years ago he was instrumental in creating and administering a family charity – The Lee Bakirgian Family Trust – which supports a range of youth and community related charities and causes.
Having recently become a Richmond resident, Lord Lee was delighted to join the Board in 2016. Richmond has a significant place in our nation’s history and he looks forward to playing a part in the onward development and expansion of the Museum, with its fascinating collection.
Rose Barling - Vice Chair of Board of Trustees, Educational Advisor, Chair of Fund-Raising and Marketing group
Rose has an MA in History in Education from the Institute of Education and taught History in Richmond Secondary Schools for over 35 years. She has a keen interest in local history, heritage, museum education and learning outside the classroom. She co-authored a school text-book with former museum chair Valerie Boyes. A former Deputy Head at Waldegrave School, Rose also has extensive experience of issues including safeguarding and marketing
Since joining the Board in November 2016, Rose has enjoyed working with our Learning and Development Officer to help to develop the Museum’s school and community offer to appeal to a wider and more diverse audience. As Chair of the Fund Raising and Marketing group she is always keen to explore new ways of raising money to help the museum continue with its work.
Clive Preston - Treasurer
Clive joined the board in April 2015 following over 30 years in the City working in diverse roles within the IT function, where he was responsible for technical design and support and project management as well as holding responsibility for substantial departmental budgets. He is also Treasurer and principal trombone of the Barnes Concert Band, which performed at the Museum’s Garden Party in 2017. He volunteers regularly at the Museum of Army Music in Kneller Hall.
Clive has had a life-long interest in history and museums and is delighted to be able to apply his financial and IT skills within this fascinating and challenging environment.
Robyn Christie - Chair of the Collections Trust
Robyn came to the Museum in 2016 following a successful career as a curator and heritage consultant in Sydney, Australia. She has worked for the National Trust of New South Wales for over 30 years, being a member of its elected Board of Directors for the final 13 years.
Robyn first undertook degrees in art history at the University of Sydney and the Courtauld Institute of Art, undertaking curatorial work at the S H Ervin Gallery, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Australian Childhood. She subsequently undertook degrees in heritage conservation and architecture and, in addition to the National Trust, has completed contract work for the Historic Houses Trust of NSW, the Heritage Group of the Public Works Department, as well as independent firms and commissions.
Robyn is currently undertaking a PhD in architecture at the University of Sydney. She is a professional member of ICOMOS, DOCOMOMO, AIA (Australian Institute of Architects), AMaGA (Australian Museums & Galleries Association), PHA (Professional Historians Association) &, in the UK, a guardian at SPAB.
Peter Creegen - Collections Trust
Peter Cregeen has been a resident of Richmond for nearly 50 years. He worked as a producer and director of Television Drama at both the BBC and ITV, and was Head of Drama Series at the BBC for 5 years.
He has taught Screen Acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, East 15 Acting School, Arts Educational London School, Alra, Guildford School of Acting, and Directing at the National Film and Television School and Ravensbourne College.
Between 2005 and 2015, he was an examiner in Drama and Speech Subjects for Trinity College London, both in the UK and internationally. He was made a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1989. Peter has served on the Boards of numerous organisations, including the Council of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, the Royal Television Society, BAFTA, and BAFTA’s education committee.
He was Chairman of the Actors Centre for 15 years and Chairman of Jerusalem Productions for over a decade. He was also a Governor of Christ’s School, Richmond and is a former member of the Church Committee of St Mary Magdalene.
Though Peter officially came to the end of his tenure as a Trustee in 2020, he continues to work with The Collections Trust and represents the Museum at Arts Richmond meetings.
Alexandra Attelsey MRICS - Trustee
Alexandra joined the Board in November 2019. She is currently West Wing Lead at The Royal Household and has a MSc Sustainable Heritage from UCL. An experienced Project Sponsor, Project Manager and Chartered Building Surveyor, Alexandra has a history of working in the museums and heritage industry delivering large projects, from Major Conservation, Exhibitions, Refurbishment and New Build projects in sensitive and busy sites.
Daniel Feeney - Trustee
Daniel joined the Board in December 2019, bringing over 15 years of visitor engagement experience from his career in Museums and football. He is currently the Head of Visitor Experience at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. Prior to this position Daniel was Head of Visitor Services at Buckingham Palace for Royal Collection Trust, having been Head of Visitor Experience at the V&A, alongside roles at the National Portrait Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield, Cornerhouse in Manchester and Manchester City Football Club. Daniel has an MA in Art Gallery and Museum Studies and BA in History, both from the University of Manchester.
Daniel has a commitment to the development and delivery of engaging experiences, with an emphasis placed on the dialogue which takes place between visitors and institutions. He looks forward to applying his experience from larger museums and galleries to help the Museum in an exciting period of development, finding new ways to attract and build relationships with local and tourist audiences.
Susanne Lap - Trustee
Susanne Lap became a trustee in January 2020. She has been a resident in the Richmond area since 1988, after she moved to the UK from the Netherlands. Over the past 30 years, Susanne has been a passionate supporter of the arts, as well as social inclusion causes. She served as a trustee of a social welfare charity, as a volunteer prison visitor, and as a volunteer for the Garden Museum, amongst other causes. She currently co-ordinates the organisation of charity events at Trumpeters’ House in Richmond and is researching the history of its prior residents.
Barry May - Trustee
Barry began a life in journalism as a reporter on the Richmond & Twickenham Times and ended as an editor with Reuters after serving as a widely-travelled foreign correspondent. He is Chairman of The Richmond Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Freeman of the City of London.
He joined the Board in November 2019. He feels the Museum is a prized asset which both needs and deserves more prominent space for it to be so much more a resource for residents, schools and visitors in premises better suited to attracting researchers and casual passers-by alike.
Dr Nicola Mann - Trustee
Nicola Mann joined the Museum of Richmond as a Trustee in June 2022. Currently the Head of the Department of Communications & The Arts at Richmond, the American University in London, she has a diverse background working across the arts, culture, charity, and academic sectors. Nicola started her career with an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, before moving on to a PhD in Visual & Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester, New York. Supported by her experience working with the Happy Museum Project, she firmly believes in the value of local museums and looks forward to helping to explore audience engagement and community outreach initiatives at the Museum.
Ann Chapman-Daniel - Trustee
Ann is a Richmond local, specialised in international sales & marketing. Graduating in Business Studies & German and working subsequently for Thomson Reuters, Ziff Davies Publishing Inc and France Telecom Group, she travelled widely establishing offices and distribution. Ann and husband Ophir founded Minesoft, developing searchable online and competitive intelligence services in sci-tech/patent data. Minesoft won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2009 and 2015 for outstanding growth in International Trade.
Ann and Ophir have won numerous company and personal awards for Innovation, Export, Legal-Tech, Best Business, Female Entrepreneur, Information Professional Germany & Gamechangers. Ann supports History of Art and Architectural Heritage projects in the UK & Commonwealth.
Museum of Richmond Collection Trust
Robyn Christie (Chair)
Peter Cregeen
Sally Goodsir
Patrons
Royal Patron: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra
Patrons
Anita Anand
Sir David Attenborough OM CH FRS CVO
Ann Chapman-Daniel
Greville Dare
Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lord Fellowes of West Stafford
Lord Watson of Richmond CBE
Volunteers
The Museum also has a team of around 30 volunteers who staff the front desk, work on projects like the digitisation of the collection and help run events.
VISIT
Usual opening hours: Tuesday to Fridays, 11am to 5pm and Saturdays, 10am to 4pm.
The Museum will be closed on Wednesday 29th March 2023 between 2pm to 5pm.
FREE entry!
Please note: regular workshops for schools, families and adults are held in our temporary exhibition area, during which times it may be too busy to view the current exhibition. Please contact us in advance if you would like to know what activities are planned at the Museum for the day of your visit.