Museum Curator awarded MBE in New Years Honours

Debbie Greaves, pictured below on her retirement as Curator for the Tenterden and District Museum, was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours for over 21 years voluntary service to the Museum.

Debbie joined the Museum in 1999 as a Steward and took over as Curator soon after.  She was Curator for over 21 years, before standing down at the end of the season in 2020.  Her dedication and service, to the Museum and the Town, was recognised by Tenterden Town Council who made her a Freewoman of the Town, an honour granted to only half a dozen people in the last 25 years.  She is only the second woman to be honoured in this way.  Debbie was elected President of the museum in 2021.

Her nomination for a national award was supported by Kent County Council, the Mayor of Ashford Borough Council, Tenterden Town Council, the President of the museum and her co-workers at the Museum, who all felt that her contribution was worthy of national recognition.

In her time as Curator Debbie oversaw numerous improvements to the Museum including access for mobility impaired visitors to the whole ground floor, numerous special exhibitions and events and the improvement to the collection and displays, including the ever-popular 20^th Century Exhibition.

Tenterden Museum is located in the heart of Tenterden, just off the High Street on Station Road.  It is open April through December and is one of the major tourist attractions in the town.  More information about the museum can be found on the website at www.tenterdenmuseum.co.uk.