Thursday 21 April 2016 was certainly a day to remember. Here is a summary of our celebrations as experienced by Museum Assistant Diane Fare.
Charlotte Bronte’s 200th birthday finally arrived on 21st April, and all the preparations and efforts of the Museum staff culminated in a wonderful day of celebration that brought visitors from as far afield as South Korea.
Visitors were queuing to get in the Museum at 10am in order to sign up for 'treasures' tours with the collection team, and take a close look at some of Charlotte’s possessions in the sanctuary of the Museum library, whilst dozens of others queued for tea and cake in the Old School Room. The wait was worth it, as visitors were treated to a dramatic interpretation of scenes from
Jane Eyre by Haworth Primary school children, and performances from our resident opera singer/Museum Assistant Charissa and the Bard of Saltaire, who performed a unique Bronte rap! Incredible floral displays by Simply by Arrangement were dotted around the Museum, and graced every table in the Old School Room, which looked like it was hosting a gorgeous vintage wedding thanks to the very creative Lynne, our Group Bookings Officer. There was great excitement around lunchtime when crowds lined the Church St cobbles to welcome members of Otley Cycling Club who transported a floral tribute from Thornton, and then gathered in the Parsonage garden to hear a blessing by Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith, and a moving reading of Charlotte's poem 'Life' by Tracy Chevalier. Our volunteer gardeners Geoff and Jenny planted a rose bush, kindly donated by David Austin Roses, in our heather garden, and chatted informally to visitors about the Parsonage garden.
The Old School Room proved to be the perfect meeting place for visitors and locals alike – stories were shared and new friends made over a cup of tea and cake – all of which were very kindly donated by local residents, businesses and Museum staff. As day turned to evening, and many visitors made their journeys home, we were joined in the Museum by a number of local businesses, who helped us toast Charlotte with a glass of prosecco. The lucky visitors who had signed up earlier in the day to enjoy a tour of the
Charlotte Great & Small exhibition with Tracy Chevalier, joined us in our toast, and we all finally got to sample the very impressive-looking birthday cake baked by 2015 British Bake Off contestant Sandy Docherty - it was definitely worth the wait!
It remains to say, on behalf of the Museum, a great big thank you to everyone who helped make Charlotte’s birthday such a special day. I think we all did Haworth’s most famous resident proud!
Here's a short film that we think encapsulates the atmosphere of the day perfectly.