Remember the day Wimborne Town won the FA Vase? Or the way Shapwick and Witchampton celebrated the Millennium?
Reminders of these great occasions are just some of the fun and festivities of the last 70 years which will be celebrated as part of East Dorset Museum’s new exhibition.
Inspired by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year, the exhibition, which runs until March 2023, examines how local people have observed important local and national events since 1952.
Members of the community in Wimborne and beyond were invited to contribute to the exhibition by sharing stories, reminiscences, photographs and memorabilia.
Celebrations include the Queen’s coronation and previous jubilees, local carnivals held at Wimborne and Verwood, The Magpies’ historic win in the FA Vase final in 1992, and how we marked the Millennium. Photos and artefacts have been contributed by Wimborne, Verwood, Witchampton and Shapwick.
During 2022, the museum will celebrate other special events including 400 years of Dorset button making and the museum’s 60th birthday. The celebratory theme will be carried through to different parts of the museum, including the garden, the shop and the Tea Room.
There will also be an exhibition of celebratory pennants, designed by community organisations, on display after Easter, and May will see the exhibition of children’s portraits from the ‘Celebrating Ourselves’ competition.
Museum director Chezzie Hollow said: “For the first time, visitors will be able to ‘experience’ different exhibition elements across the whole site as well as in the exhibition gallery. Interactive elements will encourage people to share their own favourite celebration memories, try different scents to discover what a celebration smells like to them and enjoy party hits from the past 70 years. The exhibition is family friendly and is a fantastic opportunity for all ages to experience the museum in a new way.”
museumofeastdorset.co.uk

By Faith Eckersall