Long-serving museum volunteer receives award

Lizzie Wiscombe has volunteered at the museum for more than 10 years

A long-serving volunteer has been recognised for her dedication and contribution to "museum learning".

Lizzie Wiscombe, who is partially sighted, has been a volunteer at Lyme Regis Museum in Dorset for more than a decade.

She was among the winners at the Marsh Awards for Volunteering ceremony at the British Museum, which she attended with her guide dog, Baden.

She said discovering she was joint winner of the award for south west England came as a complete surprise.

Lizzie Wiscombe (centre) attended the awards with Bridget Houseago and fellow volunteer Lin Paterson

She said: "It was quite a shock, I didn’t know they’d done it.

"To be told one Friday you've won the south-west award and then to be at the British Museum was amazing."

The journey to the awards ceremony on 23 September was the first time her new guide dog had been on a train.

She said: "He got to go on stage as well.

"Every time people clapped he thought it was something he had done so he was waggling his tail madly."

As well as welcoming visitors to the museum, Ms Wiscombe delivers living-history sessions - dressing up as Mary Anning and allowing children to handle the fossils.

She also trains new volunteers and helps with events.

During her spare time, she crafts Dorset buttons that are sold in the museum's gift shop.

Ms Wiscombe also helped Kate Winslet perfect her Mary Anning accent for the filming of Ammonite in Lyme Regis in 2019.

Museum director Bridgit Houseago said: "Lizzie is a remarkable role model and stalwart volunteer.

"Despite many challenges, she has an outstanding positive attitude, is a resolute and dependable volunteer and invaluable member of our team.

"We are so delighted that her dedication has been recognised with this prestigious award."