Exhibition on Chase poet set to wow visitors to under threat Hednesford museum

A lecturer and parish councillor is hoping a new exhibition on a poet who based her work around Hednesford and Cannock Chase will be one of the catalysts to save the district's museum which celebrates its heritage.

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An exhibition on Nancy Foster starts next week at The Museum of Cannock Chase which is under threat of closure due to district council funding issues.

A local art group called Maths & English Made Easy Through Art have an exhibition at The Museum of Cannock Chase based on local poet Nancy Foster.
Pictured is group leader Clair Harris with some of the students who created the artwork. — A local art group called Maths & English Made Easy Through Art have an exhibition at The Museum of Cannock Chase based on local poet Nancy Foster. Pictured is group leader Clair Harris with some of the students who created the artwork.

Clair - who is on Brereton and Ravenhill Parish Council - has been working for South Staffs College leading a class called "Maths and English Made easy through Art." at the nearby Hednesford Park Pavilion - their work will form part of the exhibition.

A local art group called Maths & English Made Easy Through Art have an exhibition at The Museum of Cannock Chase based on local poet Nancy Foster.

Part of the course has been on the work of Miss Foster, who lived from 1913-33 and published a book of poems based around district landmarks. When she died tragically at the age of 20 the book was purchased to raise money for her headstone.

Pictured at the under threat Museum of Cannock Chase is Nancy's nephew Malcolm Foster.

A scenic trail starting and finishing at the museum and progressing through Hednesford celebrates her work and features eight QR codes sharing snippets of her life and work. Her nephew Malcolm is part of Clair's class and he and the family have donated exhibits and artefacts for the exhibition, which starts next Tuesday.

Course leader Clair Harris looks at some of the artwork which will be on display

Clair has supported the efforts of over 2,500 people who have signed a change.org petition to keep the Museum of Cannock Chase open - area MP Josh Newbury has brought the issue of that and the also under threat Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock up in parliament.

Clair said: "I hope something can be done to save what is a wonderful museum celebrating the area's heritage and history whether that be mining or the beautiful Cannock Chase which we are lucky to have right on our doorstep.

"I have been associated with the museum for years whether that be taking my kids there, working there briefly or now with this wonderful little exhibition which will feature the life and work of a poet who celebrated what we have here in this area.

"This sort of thing is happening around the country unfortunately and when cuts need to be made it is often the arts which is the first to suffer but I just hope by putting this on and continuing to run the course at what is a great little venue more or less opposite in Hednesford Park, it can help with the push towards saving it."

The exhibition of artwork, books and objects relating to Nancy Foster's work will be on display at the Museum of Cannock Chase's coffee shop from Tuesday,