Saturday 1 May 2021

Volunteers and Trustees Needed at the Castle

 The Spring Newsletter from Hay Castle Trust includes an appeal for volunteers - one of the jobs the volunteers have been doing recently is clearing out the unsaleable stock in the Honesty Bookshop and restocking the shelves.  Volunteers will also be needed when the Castle re-opens to the public as tour guides (full training will be given) and to keep the grounds tidy.

The Castle is also looking for three new Trustees, as three present members of the board come to the end of their terms of service.  The Castle Trust is looking for people who know about historic building conservation and management, and fundraising strategy, as well as human resources - people with  prior experience would be welcome!

They are also looking for someone to run the cafe that will be in the Castle when it opens, which will be one of the main ways that the Castle can make money to keep running.  They will also be hosting private events at the Castle, especially weddings, and there will be the King of Hay Bookshop, with a selection of new and secondhand books, as well as cards and gifts (they say these will be tastefully selected, which doesn't sound much like Richard Booth the King of Hay himself, who was more inclined to bold gestures than tasteful gifts).

Other news in the latest newsletter includes the celebration of the new staircase, which had to be lifted in by crane, and the completion of the Castle roof, making the whole building waterproof for the first time since the fire of 1939!  The Castle Trust has also acquired a stained glass portrait of Richard Booth as King, which was made in the early 1980s by local artist Charlie  Janson, and the King's desk, which will be on display.

In the coming months, they will be looking for local groups which want to use the Castle as a venue, and local music, theatre and literature groups which would like to use the Castle facilities.

No comments: