Appointment brief

Trustees

of the Cromwell Museum Trust

Introduction from the Chairman

The Cromwell Museum interprets the life

and legacy of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)

and his immediate family through

portraits, documents and objects. The

Museum interprets Cromwell's

significance and legacy. The Museum has

international popular appeal, attracting

visitors from across the globe, while at the

same time is successfully and strongly

embedded in the life of Huntingdon’s local

community. Since 2016, the Museum is

run as a Charitable Incorporated

Organisation (Reg. 1166233).

We are now looking to make significant

strides forward and recruit up to four new

Trustees.

These Trustees will have the vision and

ambition necessary to work with us on

the establishment of the trust and to

drive the Museum forward to greater

success.

Mr Peter Johnson

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Cromwell Museum Trust

Oliver Cromwell: “King in all but name”

Oliver Cromwell is one of the most

significant and controversial individuals in

history. He was head of state of the first

and only British republic, and remains to

this day the only commoner ever to have

been offered the Crown.

He was born in Huntingdon in 1599, lived in

the town for over half of his life, and

became its MP in 1628. He first came to

national prominence during the Civil Wars

when, despite having no military training or

experience, he demonstrated his abilities as

a cavalry commander. This conflict was the

making of Cromwell’s name and reputation,

and when his tactical skills brought the

fighting finally to end in 1651 he returned to

London to great acclaim. Cromwell was seen

as the man who had ended the wars and

brought peace to the nation. In April 1653

he was appointed Lord Protector and during

the next five years, until his death by natural

causes in 1658, he tried to achieve his

objective of creating a ‘Godly Nation.’

Many of Cromwell’s actions, such as his

active support for the execution of King

Charles I, his role in Ireland and his granting

of readmission of Jews to England, have

given him international significance. Yet

Cromwell’s name will always be firmly

associated with his home town of

Huntingdon. Roads are named after him,

bars and businesses take his name, and the

town sign refers to it being the place where

he was born.

About the Museum

The Museum holds the best collection of

Cromwelliana in the UK. The collection

comprises nearly 700 items, of which

Cambridgeshire County Council owns the

majority. The display includes portraits,

clothing, miniatures, arms and armour,

historical documents written by or about

Cromwell, and one of his death masks.

The Museum attracts about 10,000 visitors

each year, and carries out a rich range of

educational and outreach events, often in

partnership with other bodies such as re-

enactment groups, the Friends of the

Cromwell Museum, the Cromwell

Association, and the archives and local

studies team based in Huntingdon Library.

The Museum supports the annual Cromwell

Collection public lecture which is given

each November in Huntingdon.

The Museum has Accredited status from

Arts Council England (ACE). It is open

throughout the year daily Tuesday-

Saturday, with reduced opening hours

from November to March. Admission is

free.

Currently the Museum is staffed by a

Curator and relies on the 30-strong

volunteer body for additional support in a

variety of duties, ranging from Education,

Events, Retail and Front of House.

The Museum building

The Museum building, a 12th century

structure heavily restored in 1877, is a

Grade 2* listed building and is

approximately 70 m2. It is the building in

which Oliver Cromwell was himself

educated as a schoolboy, and where he

first received exposure to Puritan ideas

through the teaching of Dr Thomas

Beard.

The building is under local authority

ownership, ensuring that the costs of

maintaining the fabric do not fall on the

Trust. This leaves the Trust free to

concentrate on day-to-day operations,

exhibitions and audience engagement.

The Trustees of the Cromwell Museum Trust

We are looking for up to four individuals who can offer expertise and skills in

IT/ public relations background, capable of helping the Trust develop a web and social media presence

Financial/business background capable of helping the Trust maximise revenues from the Museum

It is hoped that a few of the new Trustees will come from the Huntingdon area, complementing the other largely Cambridge-based Trustees. All trustees will be expected to:

give firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets;

work together on attracting funding towards the new Trust;

ensure the continual assessment and improvement of the Museum's performance against targets established by the Trust;

help protect and manage the property and collections of the Trust and to ensure the proper investment of its funds;

represent the Trust when necessary at functions and meetings;

ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;

ensure that the organisation pursues its objects and acts within the powers defined in its governing document; and

abide by the Museums Association Code of Ethics for Museums.

The Trustees will be responsible for ensuring

that the staff and volunteers of the Cromwell

Museum trust actively pursue the Cromwell

Museum's aims and objectives.

To apply

Please send your CV together with a supporting statement of not more than two sides of A4 about how your experience, knowledge and skills would benefit the Trust, to: Gordon Chancellor Museums Partnership Officer Cambridgeshire County Council Box Number OCT 1226 Shire Hall Cambridge CB3 0AP Email: gordon.chancellor@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Tel: 01223 699402 / 07747 205575 For an informal discussion about these roles, please contact Gordon Chancellor via email or

telephone.

Cromwell Museum Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales no.1166233

Registered Office: Huntingdon Library, Princes Street, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 3PA