Torquay Museum Society

We are a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting a wider understanding of the history, natural environment and cultural heritage of Devon. At the moment there are around two hundred and fifty Torquay Museum Society members. We organise the Annual Lecture Programme and provide voluntary support to the work of the Museum. New members are always welcome. For more details on joining Torquay Museum Society please email: [email protected] or download an application form below. Prices are for a year's membership which includes entry to all lectures on the programme and free entry to the Museum.

Membership Prices

The subscription year runs from 1st October to 30th September the following year.

Single £60
Joint £100 (at the same address)

with the usual life memberships available as follows:

Individual life membership £500 (10 years)
Joint life membership £800 (10 years)

Torquay Museum Society Membership Form (PDF)

Torquay Museum Society

The Annual Lecture Programme

The programme is usually in two seasons which run from October to December and January to April. Lectures are on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting at 10.45am and are open to Society members. The lectures cover a huge array of topics and cater for a wide variety of interests.

Torquay Museum Society lectures take place at Torquay Museum in its Pengelly Hall lecture theatre. For more details call 01803 293975 or email: [email protected] for more details.

Download a copy of the current lecture programme here (PDF)

SUMMER CONVERSAZIONE
During the summer months, between the spring and autumn lecture series, we run weekly conversazione, informal meetings involving presentations by members, e.g.short talks, poetry readings, and discussions initiated by members, often around the display of interesting objects and artefacts.

THE BOOK COLLECTION
We are the proud custodians of an historic book collection begun at the founding of the Torquay Natural History Society in 1844. This collection is a key resource for specialist researchers from far afield as well as for local people interested in exploring aspects of our common heritage.

VOLUNTEERING
There are many volunteering opportunities for Society members wishing to support the running of the Museum. Volunteers are also responsible for the cataloguing and care of the Society’s book collection.

HELP RUN THE SOCIETY
As a democratic organisation we encourage members to participate at all levels of the Society. The governing body of the Society, known as the Board of Trustees, consists of up to ten members, who meet bi-monthly to oversee the work of the Society. All members have an automatic right to be elected to the Board and are encouraged to put themselves forward for election to the Board or any of its sub-groups. Members are also encouraged to put themselves forward for roles within specialist subject sections of the Society.

Torquay Museum Society was founded in 1844 as the Torquay Natural History Society (TNHS). In 2003 the TNHS was reconstituted as Torquay Museum Society (TMS). On April 1st, 2015, TMS reformed as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1161126). Ownership and responsibility for the Museum, the building and its collections, now lies with the Torbay Museums Trust (Charity Number 1025390)

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