Helping hand for Bexhill museum redecoration

A Bexhill decorating company helped volunteers give the museum a spruce up over the winter break with some much-appreciated sponsorship.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jan 2016, 15:43 BST
Updated 22nd Jan 2016, 15:49 BST

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Bexhill Museum chairman John Betts, Brewers' area manager Kevin Dobbs, Brewers' area sales representative Tony Guarino and volunteer Ken Bywater with the maintenance team (above)Bexhill Museum chairman John Betts, Brewers' area manager Kevin Dobbs, Brewers' area sales representative Tony Guarino and volunteer Ken Bywater with the maintenance team (above)
Bexhill Museum chairman John Betts, Brewers' area manager Kevin Dobbs, Brewers' area sales representative Tony Guarino and volunteer Ken Bywater with the maintenance team (above)

Volunteers have been converting Bexhill Museum’s bulbs to more cost-efficient LED lighting as well as re-decorating the reception and staircase in a £4,000 project.

Brewers Decorating Centres provided financial support and decorating materials to the museum and the firm’s executives came to see how it was going on Friday (January 15).

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Area manager Kevin Dobbs said it is a wonderful museum and was happy to help.

“I am from Bexhill so I have a soft spot for the museum,” he said.

“I didn’t realise before that it was so vast. It should be really promoted so everyone knows about it.

“I am only too happy to help it.”

Brewers’ donation came from the efforts of volunteer at the Egerton Road museum Ken Bywater.

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Though completion of the complex LED conversion work may have to be undertaken during the next winter break, eventual energy-savings are expected to recoup the cost of the scheme in four years.

Low-lux LED lighting will also be kinder to many of the museum’s artefacts.

The sponsors’ visit came at a key time for the museum.

Volunteers are working to a tight deadline to have the museum’s new exhibitions completed in time for the opening of the 2016 season on February 1.

Museum chairman John Betts said: “We are very pleased that a Bexhill business is supporting the museum.

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“Later in the year we will be looking for support from other Bexhill businesses and the people for our project to create a new wing here.”

Mr Betts also paid tribute to private donors who have contributed towards the LED lighting scheme via a buy-a-bulb fund.

“It was one of the things by which the museum board wants this place to be more integrated with the town,” he said.

Highlights of the 2016 displays will include the Izzard family model railway layout – a childhood heirloom donated by museum patron Eddie Izzard and his brother.

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Elsewhere, costume and social history gallery exhibits are being changed, a photo time-line will illustrate the garages and filling stations of Bexhill’s past and the Sargent Gallery will be marked by a striking and topical Star Wars display.

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Related topics:BexhillVolunteersBexhill MuseumEddie Izzard