Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life was delighted to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester on Tuesday 9th June 2026, in a visit that celebrated the museum’s deep roots in the Mid Devon community and its ambitions for the future.
His Royal Highness was accompanied by HM Deputy Lieutenant Lord Ivar Mountbatten. Lord Ivar has recently been appointed as the museum’s first patron.
At the museum, His Royal Highness was received by a civic party comprising the Chair of Devon County Council Rosie Dawson; the Chairman of Mid Devon District Council, Councillor Gordon Czapiewski; the Mayor of Tiverton, Councillor Sue Griggs; and MP for Tiverton and Minehead, Rachel Gilmour.
His Royal Highness was then introduced to museum director Pippa Griffith, who welcomed The Duke and gave a brief history of the museum before presenting an architect’s model of the museum’s redevelopment proposals. The plans, which aim to create a larger, more flexible learning space for visiting school groups and transform the museum’s ability to host events. The Duke heard about the museum’s plans to celebrate the historic school building within a future redevelopment. His Royal Highness also met a number of the museum’s trustees, including Chair Jose Kimber, who give their time to help steer and support the museum as a registered charity.
The Duke was given a tour of the museum, where he met a number of the local volunteers whose dedication and generosity of time are what make the museum possible. The volunteers The Duke met included people of a wide range of ages and backgrounds who give their time in countless ways, from welcoming visitors and maintaining the collection to supporting the museum’s busy programme of events. A number spoke to His Royal Highness about their roles and what draws them to volunteer at the museum.
The tour also illustrated the breadth of the museum’s reach into the community. The museum welcomes school groups from across Devon and Somerset, and its Learning and Participation Officer Kate Evans extends that work further through outreach visits to schools directly. Its reminiscence programme goes beyond the popular on-site Memory Bank sessions to include outreach visits to local care and residential homes.
Representing the range of organisations the museum works with were Sir Ian Heathcoat-Amory, Chair of Viscount Amory’s Charitable Trust and former President of the museum, whose Trust provides regular grants supporting the museum’s learning work; Katheryn Hope and Simone Phillips of Involve, Mid Devon’s Council for Voluntary Service; Alison Padfield, CEO of Churches Action Housing Team, reflecting a partnership through which the museum provides free entry vouchers to users of Tiverton’s food bank each summer; Jeremy Salter, Chair of Tiverton Civic Society, reflecting the close relationship shared with the society; Bridget Tosh of the Tiverton Branch of Soroptimists International, who recently made a legacy gift from one of their members in support of the museum’s work with children; and David Frowde, Activities Co-ordinator at Castle Grove Retirement, Nursing and Sheltered Housing, a regular partner in the museum’s reminiscence provision.
The visit concluded in the Transport Gallery, where His Royal Highness was introduced to the Tivvy Bumper, a full-size GWR steam locomotive and one of the museum’s most beloved exhibits. It proved a fitting finale for a visitor who is patron of the Severn Valley Railway. His Royal Highness signed the museum’s visitors’ book before departing.
Pippa Griffith, Museum Director, said: “We were truly honoured to welcome His Royal Highness to Tiverton Museum. This visit meant a great deal to our staff, volunteers and community partners, many of whom have given years of dedication to this museum and to our local community. To have our learning and community work recognised in this way was very special. We hope the visit also shines a light on our ambitions for the future, and the difference that our planned redevelopment could make to the communities we serve.”
