THE museum re-opens on Monday, March 30, for a new season which runs until Saturday, October 31.

Times will now be 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday. Adult admission remains at £4. Friends have free admission and all accompanied children – and grandchildren – get in free.

The museum was pleased to report its first donation this year – from Chard Carnival Club.

The annual meeting is at Chard Museum on Wednesday, March 25, at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend but members need to renew their membership before they can vote.

The friends elect the trustees who are then responsible for the museum’s day-to-day running.

The current trustees are seeking new nominations to ensure the museum’s future.

New displays included a First World War cabinet and a travelling Somerset county exhibition in April. A roads, railways and canal exhibition stand was added in the barn.

The Chard Carnival display furnished by Doreen Toms continued to be remarked upon and will continue into 2015.

A £500 grant from Arts Council England bought much-needed conservation materials.

The museum hosted entertaining fundraising events and thanks go to the women concerned for their efforts which raised hundreds of pounds.

The museum’s profile was raised by participation in the July festival and a June D-Day event attended by veterans and schoolchildren. The sponsored Health Walks in August were not supported locally unlike previously.