Founders saddened by museum closure

TWO men who founded the River & Rowing Museum in Henley almost 30 years ago have told of their sadness at its permanent closure.

After recording a £1m loss in the last financial year, it was confirmed last month that its final day of operation would be Sunday, September 21.

Sir Martyn Arbib, who helped fund the construction of the facility in Mill Meadows, and Chris Dodd, a former journalist and the museum’s emeritus historian, are sad to see it go.

They hope that a solution can be found to establish a smaller museum in the future either on the current site or elsewhere.

Sir Martyn, who founded the Perpetual fund management company in 1973, had given the museum’s charitable trust an £8.5 million endowment, to cover its operational costs.

But as the deficits have increased, this has reduced the interest and the base sum and the museum trustees feared that eventually all the money would run out so they took the decision to close now and explore different options.

Sir Martyn, who set up the Arbib Foundation in 1987, told the Henley Standard: “I am saddened to hear that the River & Rowing Museum is likely to close.

“I was pleased to provide much of the capital for its construction, as well as all the endowment fund but I understand how challenging it has proved for an independent museum to break even.

“Since I stood down as a trustee in 2015, I have followed its progress with great pleasure. Thousands of visitors — especially young people — have benefited from this wonderful establishment and its groundbreaking educational programme, since its opening by the Queen in 1998.

“I sincerely hope that a solution can be found to preserve this invaluable institution for the community, particularly Henley’s rich heritage.”

Mr Dodd, who worked as a rowing correspondent for more than 40 years, said he would like to see its collections preserved.

He said: “It’s extremely disappointing for me because 25 years ago we witnessed something rise, which went on to win awards for its architecture and its collections, built from nothing.

“But the building is too big and it’s doomed to make losses forever, so I guess the only thing they can do is change its use.

“I’m particularly concerned about the rowing collection. I would like to see that in a safe home where its future is safeguarded.

“It’s important that people recognise that preserving historic information is really valuable to historians, writers and artists, so we can keep the story going of what is the oldest team sport.”

Henley Town Council decided to create a museum in early 1987 to highlight its collections of documents and artefacts.

The impetus, born during the 1984 LA Olympics, came from David Lunn-Rockliffe, the former executive secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association.

Sir David Chipperfield, a then-young Harvard-trained architect, designed the award-winning boat-house-shaped museum.

The late Queen Elizabeth II formally opened its doors in August 1998 and, a year later, it won the Royal Fine Art Commission building of the year award in 1999.

The museum’s trustees has said it will continue to focus on encouraging families and children to attend before it closes. It is talking to various parties about exploring options for its collections and its children’s educational river programme.