A Cheshire West Museums volunteer whose expert knowledge on the First World War helped make Cheshire Great War Stories a success – has been awarded a national accolade.
Nigel Meyrick, from Higher Kinnerton, is the North West winner of the British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust volunteer award which recognises innovative ways in which volunteers work in museums to engage the public with collections.
Nigel became a volunteer after researching the history of his wife’s great grandfather from Chester who was killed at Passchendaele.
The electrical engineer then volunteered for the Great War Project, helping with displays and road shows after reading in a newspaper about an appeal from Cheshire West Museums for volunteers to come forward.
He advised people across Cheshire at road shows who brought family mementos and historical documents of their loved ones who died in the conflict.
Nigel said: “I realised after the first road show that I could help a lot of people who were not familiar with the internet and I was asked by relatives attending the roadshows to find out more about their family members who were all World War One heroes.
“The nomination for the award by the West Cheshire Museums Learning Team came right out of the blue and I feel deeply honoured that I have been chosen from so many colleagues across the North West.”
Councillor Stuart Parker, executive member for culture and economy, said: “I would like to congratulate Nigel for all his hard work which has been recognised by this prestigious North West award.
“His meticulous research into his own family member has really sparked an interest, passion and expertise which Cheshire families and colleagues, find invaluable.”
Nigel is now working at the Grosvenor Museum two days a week for the next three months, methodically collating the archive gathered during the Cheshire’s Great War Stories roadshows, to make it nationally accessible.
