Sadness as museum friends group slides into history books
The friends group which was the driving force behind the creation of the Black Country Living Museum is being disbanded after 50 years.
Dwindling numbers and the age of the committee members are behind the decision to wind up the membership charity at the end of the year.
The Friends of the Black Country Living Museum was founded in 1970 as a pressure group to help establish a museum dedicated to recording the history of the Black Country.
Members have played a pivotal role in turning the site into the attraction it is today and have supported the museum in collecting exhibits, manning displays, organising events and raising more than £400,000.
The friends group has also looked after the running and upkeep of Pitts Cottage, which includes demonstrating family life and explaining the history of the cottage, as well as services in Darby Hand Providence Chapel.
But although the group has 350 members, it's been struggling to recruit people to take on the responsibilities associated with running the charity.
Founder member and chairman Alan Hallman said: "It's been a very hard decision but the fact is that we founded in 1970 when most of us were in our early prime and now we are knocking on to 80.
"The membership has gradually declined and we've found it extremely difficult to fill the trustee positions as required by the Charity Commission"
As well as helping to set up the friends group, Mr Hallman was also a chapel steward for 14 years.
"I feel very sad. We've given a lifetime's work and now we've come to the end of the road. We achieved what we wanted to achieve and we have much to be proud of. But we haven't achieved it alone, we've had tremendous support from other organisations too," he added.
Black Country Living Museum chief executive Andrew Lovett has paid tribute to the friends group and, along with former director Ian Walden, attended a recent meeting to pass on their thanks to members
Mr Lovett said: "Since 1970 the Friends of Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) have supported and worked tirelessly to turn their dream of a museum into reality. 50 years on, they can look-on with pride at the contribution they have made, to what has grown into one of the largest and most successful open-air museums in the UK. Their dream has been achieved.
"We thank them for their vision and commitment in making BCLM what it is today and although the membership charity will be formally wound-up, individually, these volunteers will continue to be part of museum life as it embarks on the latest phase of its development, BCLM: Forging Ahead."
