I read an interesting little report last week. Apparently, people in the Southwest, i.e. you and me, not only give more to charity than anyone else in the UK, we also volunteer more than anyone else. Not altogether surprisingly, volunteering was most common in people over 65, as well as those classified as “economically inactive”, in other words, lazy old gits like me, or, to put it more politely, senior citizens, the retired. Not surprising since we obviously have more time to spare than someone younger who has to earn a living and possibly also has a young family to bring up. Nonetheless, in Ilfracombe, I suspect that we probably exceed even the Southwest generally, at least in volunteering, and we see volunteers of all ages.
What you, perhaps, don’t realise is that, even for strictly seasonal events, like the Christmas celebration, work continues throughout the year. Combe Christmas, for example, has been working since January on the events for this coming Christmas, as you may have seen when Charmain won for us £10,000 worth of Christmas lights. The Victorian and Steampunk celebration has just finished, but the committee is already working on next year’s (which will be from 9th to 17th June, by the way), and so on.
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And, just so you miss nothing, here’s what we have coming up this month: Devon Street Food Festival 4-6 August; Birdman 5 August; Sunwest Beer & Music Festival (at the Landmark!) 25-28 August; Ilfracombe Carnival 27 August; Mini Madness 28 August. Beat that, Barnstaple! And there’s even more in September!
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And, just so you miss nothing, here’s what we have coming up this month: Devon Street Food Festival 4-6 August; Birdman 5 August; Sunwest Beer & Music Festival (at the Landmark!) 25-28 August; Ilfracombe Carnival 27 August; Mini Madness 28 August. Beat that, Barnstaple! And there’s even more in September!
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There was a letter in last week’s Journal from a lady who felt that the admission fee charged by the museum is a rip-off. I am sure there will be others who will leap to the defence of the museum, but, since I have often recommended the museum in this column, perhaps you will forgive me if I add my pennyworth.
The current charges are £5 for most adults, £4 for concessions (students, senior citizens), children under 16 nothing. The letter writer said that, when she first went, age 4, with her father, it cost him truppence! That must have been many decades ago.
Unlike many museums, Ilfracombe receives no tax payer subsidy. It is wholly dependent for day to day running on three sources of income: admission charges, donations (including the occasional bequest), and profits from shop sales. The writer says that Barnstaple and Braunton museums are free. If that is so, they must have some other source of finance, since nothing, except, possibly, the air we breathe is free! Museums are expensive to run. Ilfracombe museum has to pay for electricity, water, two paid staff, accounting services, insurance, maintenance of the building, cleaning and many other things, and that is without considering the cost of maintaining the exhibits – if they were not looked after properly, they would soon deteriorate.
In addition to the paid staff, there is also a large group of people who manage the museum and help out with its general running. These all give their time and expertise for nothing. If it were not for these volunteers, the admission charge would have to be very much higher. So to call the present level of charges a “rip-off” is really something of an insult to all those people who give their time freely so that people like the writer can enjoy the museum.
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Various people have commented on the waistcoats I wear, sometimes even favourably. Mostly, I get them from Tom Sawyer Waistcoats (http://www.tomsawyerwaistcoats.co.uk/index.aspx) who will make them to measure, if required (definitely required in my case). They also sell a variety of accessories, such as ties, bow ties, cravats, and some steampunk stuff. They are neighbours, being based in Totnes.
The current charges are £5 for most adults, £4 for concessions (students, senior citizens), children under 16 nothing. The letter writer said that, when she first went, age 4, with her father, it cost him truppence! That must have been many decades ago.
Unlike many museums, Ilfracombe receives no tax payer subsidy. It is wholly dependent for day to day running on three sources of income: admission charges, donations (including the occasional bequest), and profits from shop sales. The writer says that Barnstaple and Braunton museums are free. If that is so, they must have some other source of finance, since nothing, except, possibly, the air we breathe is free! Museums are expensive to run. Ilfracombe museum has to pay for electricity, water, two paid staff, accounting services, insurance, maintenance of the building, cleaning and many other things, and that is without considering the cost of maintaining the exhibits – if they were not looked after properly, they would soon deteriorate.
In addition to the paid staff, there is also a large group of people who manage the museum and help out with its general running. These all give their time and expertise for nothing. If it were not for these volunteers, the admission charge would have to be very much higher. So to call the present level of charges a “rip-off” is really something of an insult to all those people who give their time freely so that people like the writer can enjoy the museum.
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Various people have commented on the waistcoats I wear, sometimes even favourably. Mostly, I get them from Tom Sawyer Waistcoats (http://www.tomsawyerwaistcoats.co.uk/index.aspx) who will make them to measure, if required (definitely required in my case). They also sell a variety of accessories, such as ties, bow ties, cravats, and some steampunk stuff. They are neighbours, being based in Totnes.
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