Benefits of Membership of the Group of Friends
Access to the Museum
Members of the Group of Friends have free entrance to the Museum at any time during public opening hours. In addition, members of the Group may be allowed access to the books and archives of the Museum by arrangement with the Curator. Members with a special interest in photography may be given access to the Museum when it is otherwise closed to the public, again by arrangement with the Curator.
Talks and Visits
The Friends also arrange a regular programme of special events, visits, lectures and discussions. From September to June three or four talks are arranged on subjects of both local and military interest, which are free to all members. To give some idea of the range of the talks, recent subjects have included The Zulu War; Boadicea; the History of the Army Physical Training Corps; Aldershot's Citizen Soldiers; the siege of Basing House; the Aldershot Hippodrome; the Battle of the Little Big Horn; and the story of the firm of George Potter's and their involvement with military music. In addition to the talks, and a number of outside visits are programmed to other military museums or places of interest.
Right: The Aldershot Hippodrome Theatre, subject of a recent talk organised by the Group of Friends
Special Events
Above: The Old Basing Royal British Legion Corps of Drums parade at "Guns and Drums", one of the annual special events days organised by the Group of Friends at the Aldershot Military Museum
In the summer the Friends organise the "Guns and Drums" special events day at the Museum, including displays from historical re-enactment groups, performances by local bands, and displays from other local museums, clubs, and societies. These are exciting and enjoyable events for all, as well as providing an ideal means of bringing the work of the Military Museum to the general public. For details of the next event see the "Guns and Drums" special events day page. The Friends also give assistance to other events organised by the Museum or with its displays at other shows. Other activities may be organised by the Friends, depending on what the members want.
Newsletters
All members of the Friends receive copies of the Aldershot Military Museum's regular Newsletter, giving details of latest developments at the Museum and information on the Friends' activities.
Friends Projects
The various special projects undertaken by the Friends allow all members to see how their membership allows us to give direct practical support to the Aldershot Military Museum. Details of some recent projects are on the Friends Projects page.
Friends of the Aldershot Military Museum home page
