‘They bring passion, enthusiasm and a range of experiences and skills’
Celebrating the successes of volunteers at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC) is high on the agenda for its newly elected Chair, Dr Patrick Newberry.
Patrick was officially elected last month at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting and was subsequently on hand at the museum’s annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony.
The event recognises the work of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s volunteers – and celebrates long service milestones.
The event not only allowed him to meet with volunteers but also to discover more about the dynamics of working at the heart of the museum.
‘It was such a joy to meet the volunteers who have dedicated so much of their time to the museum,’ explains Patrick.
‘They are such an important part of the organisation, and I very much look forward to ensuring they get as much out of their roles as we do from having them here.’
‘A joy to meet the volunteers’
In 2025, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s volunteers have collectively given thousands of voluntary hours of service.
At the event, Patrick awarded volunteer Mary Owen a certificate and a gold Volunteer Long Service badge recognising 20 years of service, meaning she joined NMMC not long after it had opened.
Patrick Newberry presents Mary Owen with a certificate and Gold Long Service Badge recognising 20 years of service. Image: NMMC.
‘I was honoured to present Mary with a certificate and special gold badge, personally thanking her for all her hard work,’ he explains.
‘For me, volunteers like Mary are one of the reasons the museum is so special – they bring passion, enthusiasm and a range of experiences and skills that we can’t help but be inspired by.’
Patrick is a former PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Partner and is an experienced Chair. During his 25 years at PwC, he supported major financial institutions in setting strategy and transforming performance.
He currently holds roles as Chair, Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk committees for several organisations across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors.
The team at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall welcome volunteer applications throughout the year. You can find out more online (information is also available from the admission’s desk).
Breaktime News has previously reported on the popularity of the surf-themed summer show, Wipeout, which was commissioned directly by NMMC.
