Local Kent-based charity The Rochester Bridge Trust has donated £10,000 towards the redevelopment of the Model Bridge Galleries at the Royal Engineers Museum.
“The Rochester Bridge Trust is a strong supporter of the work of the Museum and was delighted to be able to help fund this important project,” says Junior Warden, Dr Anne Logan.
“The Royal Engineers Museum is an important part of the Kent community, and as a charity with a particular interest in bridges, we are pleased to be able to support the Museum’s work with local schools.”
“The additional galleries will be an excellent addition to the Museum, and we’re proud to have contributed to this very worthwhile project. We look forward to seeing the extra exhibitions on display when the galleries are completed in 2010.”
A spokesman for the museum issued the following statement: “The Royal Engineers Museum Foundation is most grateful to the Rochester Bridge Trust for their recent grant supporting our Bridge Model Gallery project. The generous donation will make a great deal of work possible on this new and exciting gallery, which will enable us to display far more of our bridging collection than ever before. This project will also help to highlight the work of the Corps of Royal Engineers at home and abroad in new dynamic and informative ways. The Bridge Trust’s continued support of projects at the Royal Engineers Museum is very much appreciated.”
The Bridge Model Galleries project involves developing a stable on the Museum grounds to display the Corps’ training bridge models. The collection will be integrated into the Museum’s school education programme and will include an area for demonstrating floating bridge models. The Museum is still seeking additional funding to complete the project.
Information Notes:
The Rochester Bridge Trust is a charitable trust that exists to maintain the bridges and serve the local people of Medway. The Rochester Bridge Trust has served the people of Kent for centuries by providing crossings over the River Medway and making charitable and educational grants. Regulated by the Charity Commission, the Trust must use its income “for the passage over, under, or across the River Medway,” for the “maintenance of the banks and channels of the River Medway” and for “other charitable purposes primarily in the County of Kent.”
The Trust’s wardens, who are not paid, include members of all three local Councils in the area to ensure fair representation. Since 1999 a new Charity Commission scheme has provided for twelve wardens and assistants: three nominated by the Medway Council, two by the Kent County Council, one by the Maidstone Borough Council, and six assistants drawn from the local community and appointed by the Trust.
For further information contact:
Mrs. Sue Threader
Bridge Clerk
The Rochester Bridge Trust
bridgeclerk@www.rbt.org.uk
or
Jeremy Kimmel
Events and Education Officer
The Royal Engineers Museum
mail@re-museum.co.uk