HASLEMERE Museum has been collaborating with Tobago Museum in the West Indies.

The forerunner of the Tobago Museum was founded by Patrick Lake Boyle Coghlan (1907-1993), who lived at Copyhold, Fernhurst.

As a result of this common link the two museums have been in contact, which has led to this closer alliance and professional attachment.

The museum has been hosting two staff members of Tobago Museum on an international professional development placement: Curator’s Assistant, Helen Edwards-Noel, and Museum Assistant, Aisha Guy.

Tobago Museum is in the late 18th-century Fort King George named after King George III - on the outskirts of Scarborough, Tobago.

It exhibits pre-Columbian items including Amerindian relics, ancient pottery, military artefacts, and displays on colonial history and slavery, as well collections of antique maps, documents and coins.

During the placement for Helen and Aisha, Tobago Museum Trustee and pro tem Chairman Michael J. Keens-Dumas also briefly visited Haslemere Museum with his wife, and they met with curator Julia Tanner and chairman Melanie Odell.

The other two Tobago Museum trustees are Louis Vilain and Jeremy Knott, and it was Jeremy Knott – son of former trustee David WH Knott – also from Haslemere, who made the first contact with town museum in August last year.

Haslemere Museum chairman Melanie Odell said: “It was a great pleasure to meet Helen, Aisha and Michael, and we were delighted to be able to share the activities and processes of the museum with our international guests from Tobago.”

The chairman of the Tobago Trust, Michael Keens-Dumas, said: “The exercise proved to be one of great success in that it has opened doors leading to greater collaboration between Haslemere Educational Museum and Tobago Museum.

“Both chairmen and curator were able to meet and have discussions on areas of mutual interest with a view to implementing programmes that will promote the Tobago Museum and foster greater links throughout the museum community.

“A bright future is anticipated as we move forward having made this historic link.”

The professional development placement was funded by the Division of Community Development and Culture, Tobago House of Assembly, and authorised by Secretary Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus and Administrator Richie Toppin.

Haslemere Museum and Tobago Museum plan to continue this international alliance and look forward to furthering their special partnership.