An 89-year-old volunteer at the John Bunyan Museum has been rewarded for over a quarter of a century of dedication to the role.
Sponsored by SHARE Museums East, Silver Owl Awards are for those who have volunteered for their museum for at least 25 years.
John Bunyan Museum nominated Jean Goldsmith for the award as recognition for nearly 30 years of volunteering.
The museum’s nomination read, “Jean will always assist in any way she can. When events are held she will always support them and is the first to clear away and do the washing up. Jean never has to be asked.
“She attends our pre and end of season briefing sessions and other training events. Jean is always keen and willing to share her knowledge and experience with new and younger volunteers and is very good with the general public.”
Jean, and her late husband Arthur, used to work together in the original John Bunyan Museum and she was one of the first to volunteer when the new museum opened in 1998.
At 89, Jean is one of the museum’s older volunteers, still covering her regular stint once a fortnight on a Saturday.
Nicola Sherhod, curator of the John Bunyan Museum & Library, was thrilled to present Jean with her certificate and Silver Owl badge.
Nicola said, “Jean is part of an excellent, hard-working team of volunteers at our museum and really deserves this ‘long service medal’ for her dedication. Her service is invaluable. Long may she continue.”
Jean is keen to continue and has missed her duties during the pandemic. She said “I am so disappointed that the museum will not be able to re-open for the foreseeable future. I really enjoy and value my time as a volunteer at the John Bunyan Museum.”
