Children join battle to save threatened museum (From Times Series)

Children join battle to save threatened museum

9:30am Monday 6th February 2012 in Top Stories By Emma Phippen

Children join battle to save threatened museum

Children at a primary school in Mill Hill have joined the fight to save Barnet Museum.

Year Four pupils at Goodwyn School wrote to Barnet Council to express their distress at the idea of the museum’s potential closure.

Barnet Museum is at risk because the council has stopped funding it and is now requesting that the museum meets unaffordable rent payments.

The children, aged eight to nine, visited the museum in Wood Street with their teacher Russell Bloch on the January 24.

Mr Bloch said: “The children loved the museum. The thought of it closing really pulls at the heart strings - it would be such a shame.”

The children enjoyed the trip so much that they are determined to prevent the museum’s possible closure.

It was for this reason that they wrote to Barnet Council’s Lauren Doody, head of customer services.

One pupil Josh wrote: “I think you should keep Barnet Museum as it is a treasure to Barnet.”

Another Victoria wrote: “Today my class and I went to Barnet Museum. It was so interesting that I wanted to stay longer.

“I am very upset and disappointed that the museum could be closed.”

Julie Tucker, mother of one of the students, has also joined the fight by restarting a petition to save the museum.

Mrs Tucker, 42, of Mill Way, said: “The children had such a brilliant time it was lovely.”

Her petition, which is posted on Facebook, now has 1219 signatures.

Mrs Tucker was prompted to promote the cause when she discovered that few people knew the museum was in danger.

The museum, which is run by volunteers, is free to visit and contains a range of local artefacts.

Barnet Council ceased funding to the museum in April 2011 and is now requesting that it pays up to £40,000 a year in rent.

Unless an agreement is made the museum will be forced to close as it cannot afford this cost.

Michael Noronha, treasurer at the museum, said: “We were getting a bit battle fatigued but Goodwyn School have resurrected the fight.”

Mr Noronha hopes the council might be persuaded to offer the museum a long lease and peppercorn rent.

He believes this is the only thing that will save the museum.