‘Exciting but challenging times’ ahead for Nairn Museum as long-standing directors step down
It was a year of change for Nairn Museum, with several leading figures officially stepping down at a recent volunteers’ lunch.
The annual event saw long-standing members from the board of directors resigning due to health reasons or age, with 2024 bringing a change at the helm of the museum.
After the resignation of Joan Anderson earlier this year, the event saw also John Urquhart - the longest-serving of the directors, with 24 years of service under his belt - stepping down, as well as Ronald Gordon, who has 21 years of board membership behind him.
He commented: “It has been an interesting and rewarding time for me, and I wish the museum every success in the future”.
Hazel Macfarlane and Yvonne Cotter, both previously serving as museum managers, have resigned.
Ms Cotter said: “It has been a great privilege to be associated with Nairn Museum for 13 years as manager, and then director.
“The wealth of Nairn’s history and incredible artefacts stored there are wonderful assets of the town.”
Despite many relevant people leaving the board, it is exciting times for the future of the museum, according to the recently-appointed chair, Doug Maclean, who hosted the lunch at Nairn Golf Club for the first time in his new role.
He said: “It’s exciting times for the museum. A workshop earlier in the year highlighted some of the key areas that the museum needed to address.#
“Annie Macdonald, who has recently been promoted to the post of curator/manager, has been successful in bidding for funding to start enhancing the museum’s displays and engaging more with the local community.
“This is the start of a range of activities aimed at stabilising and developing the museum and its collections.”
During the event, he thanked all the volunteers for their continuing contribution to the museum.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the museum,” he said.
“While the museum could survive for a short while without directors and without income, it couldn’t survive a day without its volunteers. They are the museum.”
New members on the board of directors are set to be elected at their next meeting - with Professor Ron Skeldon among the additions confirmed.
Mr Maclean concluded: “The year ahead will be a challenging but exciting time for the museum, as it seeks to develop a business strategy which will ensure a sustainable future for this important feature of Nairn.
“Already steps are in progress to encourage more volunteers to join, re-design some of the exhibition displays, implement a purpose-made collections management system, and rethink the constitution of the museum to develop its links with the local community.”
