About Haslemere Museum

Baroness Bottomley had a distinguished career as the MP for SW Surrey [which included Haslemere] for many years. In that time she held Cabinet posts including Minister of Health. She was ennobled in 2005 adopting the title of Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone. She has always had a great interest in the Museum and has been a frequent visitor with her children and grand-children. She lives locally in Milford.

Local artist and art teacher who has won many awards nationally and internationally for his work which he executes in a variety of media. He frequently exhibits paintings at the Museum where he often tutors the Art Society (of which he is Honorary President). His studio is off the Hindhead Road in Haslemere.

Professor Fortey is a world renowned palaeontologist and is an Emeritus Researcher based in the Natural History Museum in London and past President of the Geological Society. He was made FRS in 1997 and has been given numerous academic awards around the world. He has written several books and appeared on many TV programmes. Professor Fortey came to Haslemere in 2008 to unveil the Blue Plaque commemorating Sir Archibald Geikie OM, FRS and attended a celebratory function at the museum.

Well known on TV where he appears often. He has a wide range of interests but has had a lifelong enthusiasm for museums and has held a number of positions related to them e.g. Chairman of Liverpool Museum. In his capacity as Chairman of "The Campaign for Museums", which he founded, he visited the Museum several years ago and was most complimentary and supportive.

Our local MP since 2005, and now a Cabinet Minister in the Government [Culture, Media, Olympics and Sport]. Visits the Museum whenever he has the opportunity. He was educated at Charterhouse, Godalming and at Oxford and lives locally at Farnham. He is a proficient Japanese speaker

World famous and award winning sculptor with an outstanding international reputation. Amongst his more famous works are the Queen Mother Memorial in the Mall, an equestrian statue of the Queen at Windsor and one of Bobby Moore at Wembley Stadium . A few years ago he held an exhibition in the Museum garden that was widely acclaimed. He was made a CVO in 2009. His studio is at Midhurst.

Perhaps best known as the Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2009 when he was knighted, Sir Andrew is also a novelist and autobiographer. He visited Haslemere during the Tennyson Festival of 2009 and delighted the audience at the Festival Dinner with his comments, reading and reminiscences. He has won many awards for his poetry.

A very familiar face on our TV screens having been the flagship reporter for ITV for many years mostly reporting from areas of conflict. Among his many memorable despatches were those he sent back from the Cyprus during the Turkish invasion, the Falklands conflict and Iraq. He lives locally at Grayswood.