New Chair Appointed and Annual Review published
Published: 01 September 2021
We held our AGM on Tuesday 31st August 2021. Trustees considered the Annual Report and Accounts, elected new Trustees and appointed a new Chair and Vice-Chairs.
Three new Trustees were appointed to the Board; Esther Renwick, Sophie Riise, and Vic Thomas. Current Trustees Pauline Megson and Linda Riddell were re-elected for a second term.
Alastair Hamilton stepped down as Chair but remains a member of the Board. Alison Moncrieff was appointed as Chair and Linda Riddell and Ronnie Eunson were appointed as Vice-Chairs. Trustees thanked Mr Hamilton for the time and commitment he has given as Chair, crediting him with leading the Trust through an extremely challenging period.
The Trust published an Annual Review to coincide with the AGM, providing a summary of the 2020/21 financial year. The report highlights both the challenges and main achievements of the past year.
Outgoing Chair, Alastair Hamilton said, “This past year really has been one like no other as we have all learnt to adapt to life during a global pandemic. We have also had significant changes in our senior management team and have had to come to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague Davy Cooper, whom we miss very much.”
He added, “We achieved a small financial surplus this year for the second year in a row and we are hugely grateful to our funders for their continued support. I am very proud of our staff team who have adapted so well to the extraordinary circumstances stemming from the pandemic, embracing new technologies, opportunities and ideas. They also worked incredibly hard to re-open the Museum and Archives and Sumburgh Head as soon as restrictions allowed, with a range of measures in place to keep staff and customers safe. We were one of the first museums and archives in the country to reopen.
Whilst we saw a significant reduction in the number of visitors to some of our sites, we saw a huge increase in our audience online, who engaged with a range of virtual events, exhibitions, blogs, quizzes and activities.”
