Westbury Heritage Centre

[Rowan]

Interested in local history? Why not pop down to the Heritage Centre in town?
It is in the process of installing a new touch screen computer for a project called 'A Touch Of Westbury History' with the research done by local people, such as myself.
Why not take a look, the touch screen should be up and running in June.

 

[Clevercat]

WESTBURY Visitor Centre is now the proud owner of state-of-the-art interactive consoles which depict the town’s heritage.

The consoles were delivered last week, and allow people to access information about the town through a series of touch screens.
The visitor centre has taken delivery of two consoles, one fixed and one portable. The fixed unit will be located at the visitor centre on Westbury High Street, whilst the portable unit is available to loan out to community groups in the Westbury area.
“The program on the machine is called ‘A Touch of Westbury History’. There are approximately 16 sites with information on Westbury and district, including Edington, Bratton, Dilton Marsh and Old Dilton. You can call up a map on the screen and take virtual tours,” said Ivan Clarke, chair of Westbury Heritage Society.
“In total there’s about two hours worth of information on there. It’s about what has gone on in the past including the wool industry.
“Local people and members of the community are on the program talking about their experiences and the history of the town. The county archivist Steve Hobbs has helped us greatly throughout the job.
“Members of the public can access it as from the end of next week. After Friday 15th June it will be available to use in a fixed position at the visitor centre.
“The portable unit will be loaned out for free to community groups.”
Funding for the units was secured through a National Lottery grant, and Ivan Clarke says that community groups in Westbury helped to secure the £27,500 grant for the hi-tech machines.
“When you apply for Lottery money you have to show that you have the support of the community,” said Ivan. “I wrote to every group that has ever received a grant from Westbury Town Council and we had hundreds of letters of support in return.
“The grants are incredibly important to us. I started the centre with a grant from Awards for All, and then got a second one to create the interactive CD Rom. This grant has now helped to set us up for the future and develop theses consoles where you can learn all about Westbury and district.”

White Horse News

[Clevercat]

The White Horse News reports...

CURRENT chair of Westbury Heritage Society, Ivan Clark, will be stepping down from the role at the end of June.

Ivan has been chair of the group for five years, after taking the position over from Graham Miles. He will be succeeded by Alison Irving at the start of July.
Ivan commented, “It has been hard work, but we have had a great deal of co-operation from various bodies. We have Awards for All to thank for fitting out the visitor centre - it’s the first real exhibition room that the society has had.
“When I took over as chair, all of the heritage society’s items were in storage, and I was looking for anywhere to as a venue for the visitor centre.
“The shop became available, and we took it. We initially had a three-year lease which has now been extended to nine years, and we have secured funding for at least the next three years.
“I think that I have done as much here as I can do as chair, and the important thing to do is to raise funds to keep the place running. The visitor centre has always been one of the main aims of the society, and it was in our constitution when it first started.
“I have spent a lot of hours on it, but I couldn’t have got the place up and running on my own. There are many volunteers who work hard to keep it going, and we never have any problems manning the place.
“My final job as chair was starting up the touch-screen interactive consoles, and I hope that in the future these can be updated so we can follow Westbury’s future, as well as its past. I have always said that the Westbury Heritage Society’s aim is to show the past, be involved in the present and to help plan for the future.”
Although stepping down from his role as chair, Ivan will continue to remain in charge of Westbury Visitor Centre.
Alison Irving commented, “I think my role as chair will be to build on what has been done over the last three years.
“The society has done marvellously well, and the main thing now is to get more income. I would like to find a way of generating income and securing funding to keep the visitor centre going.
“I also want to get more members and friends involved.
“Ivan is brilliant and he has done an excellent job. There has been a lot of team work, but it has been Ivan’s vision and we would like to thank him for all of his hard work during his time as chair of Westbury Heritage Society.”

[hermes2007]

I met Ivan recently and was very impressed with what he has achieved, so just a note of thanks for what he managed to achieve. I wish the Centre was open longer hours, but being run by volunteers that must be difficult. I do hope they get their web site back up and running as that was useful.

[thatmanfez]

I do hope they get their web site back up and running as that was useful.

Does anybody know why the site is down? I have plenty of server space I would hapilly donate if money is an issue.

[Pete]

I do hope they get their web site back up and running as that was useful.

Does anybody know why the site is down? I have plenty of server space I would hapilly donate if money is an issue.

From what I remember from another thread, the site is down for a re-hash. I believe Rowan is re-writing it.

Pete

[Rowan]

I am unsure as to why the site is down, I believe their domain expired.
I have a full website saved and ready to be uploaded. As Ivan has now stepped down I do not have any contacts at the centre, however when my A Levels are over (last exam tomorrow as a matter of fact!) I intend to contact Alison Irving and suggest getting the site back up again. Either with my website or a new design which it was rumoured someone else was working on.
Fez, I will bear that in mind if I talk to Ms Irving.

[hermes2007]

Rowan,

I mentioned your post briefly to Alison the other night, and she wasn't sure quite what was happening. The Heritage Society AGM is @ 7:30pm on 25th June at the United Reform Church.

[Rowan]

Rowan,

I mentioned your post briefly to Alison the other night, and she wasn't sure quite what was happening. The Heritage Society AGM is @ 7:30pm on 25th June at the United Reform Church.

Are you a member of the Heritage Society then hermes?
I might go to the AGM then.

[Yokel]

GHood luck on yer a levels Rowan!

[hermes2007]

Thanks Rowan,

might see you there. I'm not a member but I've been invited to speak on proposals for setting up a history trail for the area and I want to involve the Heritage Society. Probably I ought to join at the same time.  And yes good luck with your A-Levels, I can still just remember taking mine, late nights and over-dosing on coffee!

[hermes2007]

Sorry if I missed you at the AGM Rowan. Denton's have agreed to reinstate the web site in the near future. Somehow I was elected Secretary - must remember to step backwards, not forwards - but there is a lot that could be done for the town to increase awareness of its really important heritage.

[Rowan]

Sorry if I missed you at the AGM Rowan. Denton's have agreed to reinstate the web site in the near future. Somehow I was elected Secretary - must remember to step backwards, not forwards - but there is a lot that could be done for the town to increase awareness of its really important heritage.

Hi, unfortunately I couldnt make it on Wednesday.
Good news about the website, and congrats on your post!

[hermes2007]

Thank you Rowan - how are the A-Levels going ?

[Rowan]

Thank you Rowan - how are the A-Levels going ?

I'm all done now, I left a week or two ago! Now its the inevitable wait for the results!