The Royal Green Jackets

Thanks to better than expected visitor numbers in October, the Museum is on course (just) to achieve its target of 13,000 visitors by the end of the year. Shop sales are also up 4% during the year. The number of website visits, however, has disappointed with the monthly average of 3,233 falling well short of the target of 3,400.

The period since the last Ezine has been as busy as ever with a great deal of staff time devoted to planning refurbishment of the Museum’s First World War displays in early 2014 and delivery of the Battle of Waterloo Bicentenary Exhibition in 2015 – see separate article. To allow the staff to focus on the curatorial aspects of their role without distraction, the Museum will be closed on Mondays between January and March 2014.

A busy programme of events is planned in 2014 with the Centenary of events associated with the First World War being the central theme. These events are being coordinated with others planned in Winchester and across Hampshire. On 29 October the Museum was delighted to host a visit by Pegasus Bridge veteran, Frank Bourlet. A full account of the event is on the Museum website at http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_ news/news_044.asp

The Museum has been pleased to add a number of items to its collection in recent months. Among these has been a pearl earring which once belonged to the queen of Delhi and which was acquired by Captain Sir Edward Campbell, Bt., of the 1st/60th Rifl es during the ‘legalised looting of the captured city’ in 1857. The full story is at http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_ object/obj_0035.asp

Bar the unexpected during the fi nal weeks of 2013, it looks as if this year, thanks to the herculean efforts of the museum staff, will fi nish up being a very satisfactory year for the Museum. A whole raft of challenges, however, lies over the horizon. 2014 promises to be a particularly active and challenging year.

To purchase items from the Museum Shop, for information about forthcoming events, and to read interesting articles about the Museum, visit www.rgjmuseum.co.uk

OPENING HOURS Christmas/New Year Closure - The Museum will be closed for Christmas and the New Year from Friday 20 December 2013 to Monday 6 January 2014 inclusive From January 2014 the Museum will be open: January to March: Tuesday to Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Last entry 4.15p.m.) April to December: Monday to Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Last entry 4.15p.m.)

Sundays: The Museum will be open on Sundays from 29 June to 14 September 2014 inclusive. It is closed on other Sundays and over Christmas and New Year. Visits to the Museum’s archives are by appointment only.

ADMISSION CHARGES (From January 2014)

Adults: £3.75

Senior Citizens: £3.00 Children (16 and under): Free Students: £2.00

Serving personnel and Friends of the Museum are admitted free. Members of The Royal Green Jackets Regimental Association are admitted half price.