Another hands-on Chairman for Museum

New Fairlynch Chairman Trevor Waddington at work on a new project. What he’s holding will be yet another story for the Museum

  

Friends of Fairlynch Museum approved the appointment of a new Chairman at their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29 April.

Trevor Waddington moved to Budleigh Salterton in 2012, retiring after a 35-year career in the Royal Navy followed by 17 years of running an antique clocks business in Bradford on Avon. 

Brought up in Peterborough, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15, retiring with the rank of Commander and the award of an OBE in the 1992 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.   

With a background in engineering, Trevor’s hobby of clock restoration seemed appropriate. After graduating from the West Dean College/British Antique Dealers' Association diploma course in the conservation-restoration of antique clocks he went on to become a Fellow of the British Horological Institute, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, and a member of the Antiquarian Horological Society.

Retirement opened up a range of other possibilities however.  Last year Trevor gained a History degree from the Open University. “As an 11-plus ‘failure’ of the 1950s I have been motivated to prove myself ever since,” he told the Budleigh Journal in May 2014. “The achievement of an Open University degree at the age of 71 is therefore the realisation of a life-long dream.” 

Trevor is also Treasurer of the Otter Valley Association and helps to administer its Local Heritage Assets Scheme. He’s a steward at the National Trust’s A La Ronde at Exmouth. And if that were not enough, he runs the Exeter Flotilla’s Annual Trafalgar Service at Exeter Cathedral. This is an event that draws a large congregation, normally including the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Devon, the Lord Mayor of Exeter and other senior civic dignitaries together with senior Royal Navy and Royal Marine Officers.

It’s pretty clear that quirky little Fairlynch Museum will be maintaining the success that it has enjoyed under the previous chairmanship of Roger Sherriff. Under Trevor, some would say, it’ll be combining its quirky charm with naval efficiency, going full steam ahead and running like clockwork.    

“Daunting,” is how he views the prospect of his latest challenge.  “However there's a very good team of Trustees to guide me!” he says.  “My overall aim will be to build on the successes achieved by my predecessor.  In particular, the Sir Walter Ralegh exhibition has set a gold standard of presentation.  Fairlynch's professionalism and reputation can be enhanced still further by bringing the Museum's other exhibitions up to the same high standard.”