A HISTORIAN who helped fulfil his dream of creating a local history museum to preserve and celebrate the history of Redditch has retired.
Derek Coombes was one of the three local historians who took on the project and after years of work they saw the fruits of their labour when the history museum opened in 2021.
Derek was the museum’s chair of trustees until last year, but family commitments saw him reduce his role as a volunteer archivist.
His role with the museum has included liaising with the Hive at Worcester and many other historical organisations.
Although not Redditch born and bred, Derek and his wife Jill have both been passionate about preserving the town’s history for most of their lives.
Under Derek’s supervision, the museum now has a display gallery, artefact storage, a repair and online recording service, and an upstairs area for small groups to meet on a variety of different subjects.
He has also helped the museum bring in and train a group of work experience students from the Heart of Worcestershire College Redditch campus.
Museum trustee Pete Harris thanked Derek and Jill for their marvellous work which he said was helping ‘trees to grow from little acorns’.
He also said Derek had approached his work with relish and professionalism and would be greatly missed.
The museum is now looking for new trustees to help carry the museum into the future.
Anyone interested can visit the Redditch Local History Museum in Market Place during its opening times – 10am to 4pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
