New leader sought for heritage centre (From Knutsford Guardian)

New leader sought for heritage centre

6:50pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By James Wilson

KNUTSFORD’S heritage centre is looking for a new leader.

The current chairman of the trustees, Alec Guthrie, who runs the Guthrie Partnership on Church Hill, has decided to step down from his role.

Alec has been head of the trustees since 2007 after being asked to take on the chairmanship by the late Bert Grange.

“Part of the problem is that now we’ve merged with a larger company I’m spending more time in the office in London and spending time up and down,” he said.

“It’s going to take up a lot of my time over the next six months.

“The centre is at a stage where a lot has been achieved, but now it could do with someone who will take it to the next level.

“We’ve achieved an incredible amount and it is very easy to lose sight of what we have achieved and the place is much more commercially aware. We’ve overcome the tapestry problem with the support of the town and have created another exhibition room in the Musgrave Gallery.

“We manage to put on a varied number of events, and it’s down to the people who put so much effort into it. We’ve identified the product and taken people out into the town and shown them the history.”

Alec said he believed the new person to fill his shoes needed to have enthusiasm for the town and what it has to offer.

He said: “We live in a very special town, and sometimes people think that’s enough, but we’ve got some great stories to tell and we’ve got to find a way of marketing this.

“At the same time we do need some younger blood – and that’s no slight on the volunteers who are there – but with things like social media we need to embrace things like this.”

If you are interested in taking up the position call Val Bryant at the heritage centre, which is based on King Street, on 01565 650506.