The team of volunteers at The Crewe Heritage Centre have been nominated for Team of the Year at Cheshire Awards for Tourism Skills 2008.The achievements of the completely voluntary team under the guidance of new management as of early 2007 are noteworthy and commendable.
With limited funding and staff, the team have halted and turned around a prolonged period of decline at Crewe Heritage Centre. They are implementing new vision and enthusiasm to celebrate, inform and educate visitors of the world changing history which Crewe has made to the transport world and more.
The Centre's fortunes and outlook have turned around; instead of steady attrition, there is growth and pro-active work to better present the site in terms of gardens, painting, and displays.
The perception of The Crewe Heritage Centre has changed too. Once described as "an understated disappointment" or "Crewe's scrapyard", the centre is now tidy and in improving appearance.It has formed and is nurturing a new reptutation as an engaging historical attraction not only on railways, but bus rallies and all things Historic Crewe.
The Centre now has displays concerning such variety as Crewe Alexandra Football Club, Bentley Motors, Crewe at War, the social history of the town, and general Railwayana, as well as of course specific Crewe Works and station history. Space is being prepared for further displays and improving the centre for the future.
Without the voluntary team the management would not have the staff available to implement the new vision, or have people to help share and shape vision for the great celebration of Crewe's Heritage - which is what the Centre should be.
The team recogn
ise the economic and cultural benefits which an engaging attraction brings and the quality of life it can add to those who visit.Not only is it contributing towards its own future as a tourist attraction, it is contributing towards the image of Crewe and benefitting the wider visitor economy of South Cheshire.
It can be said of any town or area that without its history, heritage and culture, there is nothing to see. Crewe, once seen in the Victorian period as a model town, has for too long been a town only to drive through, or change trains at the station.
A nomination brings more publicity in itself, but a win for the team would give wide recognition to their hard work and freely given time thus far, and promote the centre, the town and the area more positively with rewards all round. A win for the team would be a win for Crewe.
Crewe Heritage Centre's team is being represented by the manager, Mike Lenz, at the Awards Ceremony on November 20th.
Friends of Crewe Heritage Centre - Supporting Crewe's Culture, History and Heritage from before the Railways to Today.
www.friendsofcreweheritagecentre.org.uk
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