We were very lucky and honoured here, at the Museum of Ryde, to have been visited recently by two Ukrainian ladies, Olha and Victoria. They were very interested in the Museum and soon after their arrival we started chatting. Olha fled the Ukrainian city of Kherson with her daughter and their cat a year ago and have faced many challenges since they arrived in the UK, including enrolling her daughter in school. Olha is an artist, who writes poetry, and used to organize artistic events in Ukraine.  She was even preparing to shoot a short film about Kherson’s streets, with the rehearsal already scheduled, when the war started. “That was the day they bombed airports simultaneously across the country. Public transport stopped running from our city. The frontline ran straight to our city and a week later we found ourselves under occupation. One morning changed our lives, and that of every Ukrainian family, forever.” Victoria is a doctor, and worked as a paediatrician in Ukraine; she also fled the country with her daughter.  She is struggling to get her degree recognised, but as Ukraine is not part of the EU, the chances are slim.  Victoria has applied to work as

With great pleasure, we announce the return of Arcadia, the Historic Ryde Society Newsletter, after a long absence and with firm promises that it will continue to keep coming, thanks to Peter Lawrence, our Membership Coordinator. Please find attached the latest copy and we are looking forward to hearing your comments on admin@historicrydesociety.com

As a museum, we have many old things that our visitors can look at, like this old cash till from the Dorset Hotel on Dover Street.  But we also have new things too like our modern cash register and now our new card reader.  A very modern way to pay for goods and services with no actual cash changing hands.  When you visit us next you won’t have to think about if you have enough cash to pay for your entry because we can now take your card details Make a visit soon and help test out our new skills!

In the County Press this week there is an advent ‘ Cash for the Charity that matters to you!’ . It would be really good if our members and supporters could help us with a nomination.  Nominations need to be made by 11 September 2022.  We need to act fast.  Nominations are made via the website www.countypress.co.uk/readerschoice. To complete the form you need to fill in the Museum’s charity number which is 1173957.  As with everyone else, the cost of living is also hitting the museum with an increase in its bills.  The museum is still trying to get back to pre covid visitor levels.  To meet the increases we need to encourage more people to visit.  The museum needs to promote and advertise itself more to achieve this.  Any funds to assist with the ‘promotion’ project will be gratefully received. If you have ever visited the museum and enjoyed your time there please help support the museum now in its fightback following its covid closures.  Please remember nominations need to be in by 11th September 2022.