Arundel Museum staff overwhelmed with £18k donation

The financial backing was announced just days before the Duke of Norfolk was due to present Arundel Museum Society with a plaque commemorating its 50th anniversary, on Wednesday (December 5).

The decision by the town council was taken after the museum’s representatives made an impassioned plea for financial backing at a meeting of the council’s finance and general purposes committee.

Speaking to the Gazette after the meeting, committee member councillor Peter Moss said that the move represented a generous gesture by the people of Arundel and that it had made a “significant contribution to underwriting the success of the £1.5m museum project”, which is scheduled for completion by the spring.

Councillor Moss said: “The £18,000 represents a gift of over £10 from every Arundel council taxpayer.”

He added: “There are several other very worthy local causes which need and deserve town council financial help, including St Nicholas’ Church restoration fund and various youth groups. The council must respond to these needs.”

Pauline Carder, chairman of the museum society, has praised the town council for its support of the new museum project.

She said: “The town council has always been extremely supportive in every way, ever since it became obvious that we had to move out of 61 High Street.

“It’s been a long haul but it has supported us all down the line. We have had so many fund-raising events at the town hall that they haven’t charged us for.

“It’s really a wonderful contribution and I just can’t stress how grateful we all are because of it.”

In 1999 the council contributed £70,000 to keep the Arundel Lido open after it faced closure.