LESS than a week after receiving the Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), museum volunteers were congratulated on their success by a special visitor.
Paul West QPM, DL former Chief Constable of West Mercia now Deputy Lieutenant of Worcestershire with responsibility for KAVS, was a guest at the Warrington-based Museum of Policing in Cheshire.
He was told how the museum went from a “standing start” 20 years ago to the major success it is today. He was impressed by the professionally organised venue and its plans for expansion.
Paul said: “The bar is set extremely high for the KAVS scheme, so to receive the award is richly deserved and is a tremendous achievement.
“Once I started looking round the museum, I could see why it's sometimes referred to as the Jewel in Cheshire Police's Crown.”
He was impressed by the scale and numbers of items on display, and also how each of the Victorian cells is themed - many using life-sized mannequins to bring history to life.
Chairman of the Museum Trustees Chris Upham MBE BEM said: “We were honoured to host Paul and tell him about our growing pains and our enthusiasm for the future.
“I think he left very impressed but also probably a little disappointed that his old force West Mercia didn't have a museum. I think he may well be knocking on a few doors there.”
Pictured with Deputy Lieutenant Paul (second from the right) are volunteers (left to right) Chris, Donna, Len and Chris.