Bob Burn Murdoch welcomes his successor Helen Giles to the Norris Museum

HELEN Giles will take over from Bob Burn Murdoch when he retires after 32 years as curator of the Norris Museum in St Ives.

Mrs Giles will join the museum on December 3 from Hertsmere Borough Council where she is the heritage and museum officer responsible for three museums.

Hunts Post columnist Mr Burn Murdoch retires at the end of the year when he turns 60.

A keen Morris dancer, Mrs Giles has worked as curator at Hertford Museum for more than eight years and has worked for many museums in the north west of England where she was instrumental in improving visitor figures and securing a £1million Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

“I am really looking forward to joining the small team at the Norris Museum,” she said. “Starting in December means that I get to spend some valuable handover time with Bob before he retires. I am hoping that this will give me a good introduction to all the great work he has done over the past three decades and a feel for what the council and the local community want from their museum in the future.”

The Friends of the Norris Museum are opening the St Ives Bridge Chapel for four Saturdays this autumn.

A range of Christmas cards and books published by the friends will be on sale. This year’s Christmas card is a copy of a Richard Bolton painting from the collection.

On Saturday (October 20) there will be a collection box for Magpas and British Legion Poppies will also be available.

The chapel is open from 9.30am-3.30pm on October 20 and 27, and November 3 and 10.