Issue 104 - December 1997

Lottery denies Museum

Trustees of the River and Rowing Museum Foundation are stepping up fund raising activities to ensure opening as planned next year after the museum's application for the Heritage Lottery Fund was rejected. £8.5 million has already been secured to provide a museum building designed by architect David Chipperfield at Henley. Building works are almost complete. In addition, £3m has been promised towards the museum's endowment fund.

The River and Rowing Museum applied for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of between £3m and £4m to provide comprehensive public exhibitions and displays of the highest standards, on the River Thames, the sport of rowing and the history of the town of Henley. This application has been turned down by the Heritage Lottery Fund due to shortage of funds.

'When we heard the news we certainly felt down but are definitely not out,' said the museum's chief executive, Jonathan Bryant. 'We now have to make every possible effort to secure funds from other sources and to open the museum during 1998 as planned.'

Chairman of the museum's development board, Adrian Morris, said, 'We are currently approaching potential donors who may be interested in funding any of the main galleries and public areas, and we are pleased to say that one has already been taken. Further approaches are in hand and will continue over the next few months.' Links: River and Rowing Museum Henley Henley Royal Regatta

© Copyright Regatta Magazine, 1997.