THE LATE LINDA HEATH REMEMBERED

After consulting the Friends of Leatherhead Museum Committee, Peter Humphreys and Duncan Macfarlane, managers of the Museum at Hampton Cottage, reluctantly decided it should remain closed to the public until 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Museum was due to open as usual in the spring after its normal winter shutdown but the lockdown overtook this. The Friends of the Museum working group was also suspended with only essential checks and gardening taking place. The garden and the new wellhead will not therefore now be on public view before next year.

Volunteer Dorothy Stapleton has been working on a new 1960s display in the former Hollis Room and the planned John Ainley art exhibition has been postponed. A new plaque commemorating the late Linda Heath, shown above, will also be on show from 2021. 

There are two main reasons for the continuing closure. First is the small size of the Museum rooms. Social distancing and hand-washing needs  would be difficult to apply and there is also a lack of storage space. Second are the ages of the volunteer stewards, mostly above that recommended for continuing protective isolation against Coronavirus. Dorking Museum also decided to remain closed until next year.

The new plaque will be installed at the Museum in memory of Linda Heath, former L&DLHS Chairman and later President. It is nine inches in diameter and in cast aluminium.

Linda joined the Executive Committee in 1986. She served as  Society Chairman 1989-1996 and President 2002-2007. She was a Museum steward for many years, gave many talks and wrote books on the Society’s behalf. She and her husband lived in the Leatherhead district from the 1960s. As well the L&DLHS she was also active in many other local organisations including the Leatherhead Parish Church and the Leatherhead Community Association. She left the Society a legacy of £40,000 on her death in 2013.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

OUR RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OF THE LEATHERHEAD & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

In view of the Covid-19 virus outbreak and its potential impact on our membership makeup, the Society has decided to cease our open activities for the time being. We are unable to suggest for how long this will be.

Our Annual General Meeting and talk on 20 March:

The AGM is now postponed to a date yet to be confirmed. If circumstances require, it may be conducted remotely as allowed for in the Constitution. The scheduled talk will be carried forward to another date.

Our monthly talk meetings on 17 April and 15 May:

These are both cancelled but we plan to revive them at a later date.

Leatherhead Museum at Hampton Cottage:

In conjunction with the Friends of the Museum and those closely engaged on Museum affairs, the followings actions have been agreed. The Museum will NOT re-open to the public as scheduled on Thursday, 2 April and there will be no formal unveiling on Saturday, 4 April.

These decisions will all be reviewed frequently.

Society involvement with local archaeology:

No decision has yet been taken on the resumption of last year’s digs at Rowhurst as this involves agreement with partner organisations.

Outreach events such as Resident Association days, Heritage week etc:

No decision has yet been taken on these as they are too far in the future.

We naturally hope that everyone connected with the Society and Leatherhead Museum will successfully avoid this virus.