The chair of Havering Museum has spoken of his pride at the progress the venue has made as he steps away from his role. 

Peter Stewart, who has been involved with the museum since it opened in 2010, was appointed as chair in 2015, taking over from one of its founders and campaigners, Ian Wilkes. 

Joining the museum after a career in football, including as a press officer for West Ham United, Peter said he became aware of the project through friends who notified him of plans to start a Havering Museum in Romford. 

Initially starting out as a volunteer, Peter made his way up through the ranks, becoming a team leader and then sitting on the board before becoming chair. 

Peter said the museum has grown from a space to house Havering artefacts, to a host of major exhibitions and a proactive player in the community, as demonstrated by it organising events for over ‘50s and talks and visits for schools. 

He mentioned the Titanic exhibition from 2018 as one highlight from his time at the helm, in which the museum explored a series of local connections to the doomed liner, as well as various artefacts and even some film props. 

Another is the accreditation the museum received in 2019 awarding it professional status, something Peter said “opened a lot of doors”. 

“That was a big feather in our cap,” he added. 

Having made the decision to step down around six months ago, Peter said he wanted to stay long enough to help ease the transition for the museum moving forward. 

“I didn’t want to walk away feeling it was not quite right.” 

Admitting it was “not an easy decision for me to make”, Peter said he knew he had to relinquish the role at some stage and now seemed like a good time to step back, with his last day today (January 27).

On how he feels knowing his time as chair has come to an end, Peter said: “[I am] very sad, because I have been involved in the way that the museum has grown over the last 13 years and has established itself, and been generally accepted by other museums."

Romford Recorder: Peter with some coins from Hornchurch dating back to 1223Peter with some coins from Hornchurch dating back to 1223 (Image: Newsquest)

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Jan Shingleton, who is taking on the role of chair, said under Peter’s tenure, Havering Museum “has developed into a community hub, attained accredited status and against all odds successfully rose to the challenge of rebuilding its events and community programme post-Covid.

"All of which is a sufficient legacy and testament to his commitment to the museum over the last 13 years.”   

Peter said he currently has no major plans but promised that, while he may not be chair, his involvement with Havering Museum is anything but over. 

“I’ll still be around. I’ll still take an interest in the museum and be around if they need any advice.”