Congratulations to Portland Museum volunteer, Vicky, on winning Dorset Museums Association Volunteer of the Year award. You’re a star, Vicky, and we thank you for all your amazing work over the last five years! 

Vicky has been a volunteer at Portland Museum for five years. During that time, she has contributed to running the museum in many ways. She is most often the friendly face that greets visitors as they arrive in the museum. And, as a Portlander of many generations past, she has a unique knowledge of island history which she shares enthusiastically with visitors.

As well as having great people skills, Vicky has undertaken and produced valuable research for projects run by Portland Museum on the rich area surrounding the museum known as Church Ope Cove. She has also made a considerable contribution to research of the Earl of Abergavenny for the museum’s Diving Into the Digital Archives of the Earl of Abergavenny project.

 

Three years ago, Vicky wrote and published a book on island culture that is for sale in the museum shop. Self-funded, Vicky very generously ploughs the profits made from A Portland Doughcake back into the museum.

Vicky has also made a priceless contribution to the museum displays by donating some fascinating collection items, some of which, were the focus of this year’s Heritage Open Days theme, Astounding Inventions! Passed down through the family line, we were able to feature a real televisor and a Portland III valve radio designed and made by her late uncle and father.

She has also donated unique film footage captured by her father on his explorations of the island. Frank Marshall had access to many quarries and the men that worked them during the early sixties that no-one else had at that particular point in time. Vicky’s donation of this film footage, with sound, was a very special gift for Portland Museum and the many people interested in the Portland stone industry.

Vicky goes above and beyond with her volunteer work and has a genuine passion for the museum. From the smallest to the largest tasks, she is always there for us.